Reaper of Equestria: Shadows on the Rise

It was dark and cool in the depths of a hidden base where the halls where lit dimly by torches that were spaced far apart and secrets that have been practiced in past years. Only recently the conductors of such works have been trudging through the worst luck the past two years and just barely mange their latest success.

“Well that could have gone better.” A cloaked figure said to the other five cloaked members that circled around a glowing red dome on the floor.

“You have the gall to say such a thing? Could have gone better. Last time I checked, you hardly done any thing but stand off to the side like a coward.” a female voice sneered.

“Watch your tongue with me.” he said with venom looking to his right.

“Both of you stop this bickering. I'll will not let you two lose your tempers here. However, Mythic Charm has a point, as to why you where standing off to the side I do not know. Care to explain Legacy?” A more calmer male voice spoke.

“It seemed to me that everything was under control. If anything I felt that my need to intervene was unneeded.”  He answered looking to his left towards the head leader in the room.

“We barely mange to live in the fight he put us through. We all were asked by the Master to find and detain him. You did nothing but throw a couple of spells” another male replied.

“And what of it Crimson. You were the one that threw yourself at him, plus you had support from Shadow and Mythic. I wasn't the only one that wasn't doing anything so take your anger out on them as well.” Legacy barked towards the hulking figure across from him.

Crimson growled as his right arm fidgeted under the cloak and produce a dark red blade that jetted out of the sleeve with blood dipping from the tip.

“Crimson and Legacy. That will be enough from both of you, or do I have to intervene.” The head leader said with warning.

Neither one responded, but stared down each other and Crimson withdrawing his blade back into the sleeve.

“Now then, we have the deserter in our possession and it is time to move onto our next agenda. With Tierk's down fall against the Bearers, we now need to prioritize on removing them for our Master to return to us. The question now is how?” he said looking at the five members in the room.

Nobody spoke up. They all knew when these Bearers were going to be a huge threat the moment Nightmare Moon was defeated on the night of her return. They just didn't know how big of a problem they would be and their understatement cost them the capture of the Crystal Empire.

“Why don't we just kill them and get it over with. It'll be easier for all of us if we did.” Crimson said.

“And there you go thinking like a barbarian.” Mythic sounding annoyed

“I don't see why not. As long as I get the yellow one you can do what ever you want.” Another female voice spoke up.

“And of course there is you always thinking of food. Do either of you think we wouldn't have done that already, Blood Lust?” she ask looking across at her unamused.

“There is a reason why we don't do that. The Bearers are linked through the Tree of Harmony. As long as they live, they'll be sharing that link. So clear your minds of harming them or it will be our undoing.” the head lead spoke again.

“Not to mention it would also bring investigation from the Royal Sister. That something I'm not willing to risk.” Legacy stated.

“Then what about our pawns? Surely they can do the job for us. What's say you, Mythic Charm.” Shadow finally voicing her thoughts as she looked to her left at her.

Mythic raised her blue hand up to her chin and thought of it. However, the facts that she was able to gather in the past told her other wise and shook her head.

“That won't work either. Queen Chrysalis is still recovering from her failed attack in Canterlot and with no way to link her mind it would be impossible. Plus the new queen and her subjects are still too weak to be use, but give them more time and they'll be a force be reckon with.” She said retuning to her arm to her side.

“Time is something we are running out of.” Blood lust stated

“Then what about your underlings Legacy?” Shadow Twirl asked

He to shook his head.

“Those three will to need time to gather their power to cause a stir in Canterlot. But they unique gift will be more noticeable then a disguised changeling.”

“Then we are all out of options then.” Crimson grunted.

“Then what about a summoning? It's the one thing we have yet to do.” Blood Lust throwing her idea in. It in turn grabbed everyone's attention as all hoods looked at her.

“A summoning? Care to explain yourself Lust.” the leader asked her.

“Of course, Prophet. Our past efforts have only been unleashing threats that have already left their mark on the world. But what if we call upon a new terror that hasn't made it's self known.” She answer.

The now identified Prophet raised his head in thought. It was something that could go very wrong but it might just work should everything go to as plan, but still wasn't enough to convince him. Blood lust caught on to this and pressured a lit more on the idea.

“I understand what could be lost in such an attempt but it is also something that hasn't been performed by us yet and it's better acting on something then acting too late. The return of the Crystal Empire is an example of our failure to act on time.” She added. Everyone else collectively went into thought on that day.

Back then, weeks after the invasion of the changeling army at the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armour, the spell that Sombra cast on the kingdom wore off and returned the kingdom in the long forgotten blizzard waste in the north of Equestria. Their efforts were wasted on trying to release Sombra from his prison that the Royal Sister entrapped him in over a thousand years ago. In the end they fail on holding the city before the two newly weds showed up and shielded it form the cursed blizzard. They saw defeat when Sombra didn't. However when he did mange to break through they failed to act in his aid and furthered their defeat. His horn fragment that was put away was their reminder.

“Be that as it may, can you guarantee that this summoning won't be the end of us?” Mythic asked.

“No I cannot.” she answered

“But doesn't mean we can't try.” Legacy spoke, “What could go bad? Out of all the events that we sowed we have yet to be discovered. How could this be any different?”

“Three factors on why this is a potential failure. One is that a summoning requires a large portion of magic to cast and because we are trying to connect to another plane, the required amount exceeds greatly where it can be notice by those who are magic sensitive.” Shadow said.

“Second is that if we summon a creature from Tartarus, it'll be a matter of time till the corruption of the creature is detected and the royal sister will stop at nothing to find out how it was unleashed from hell. And finally, if we do preform the summon, we will be doing it blindly, not knowing if the very thing will aid us or be our undoing.” She finished.

Her words echoed in their heads. Preforming an act would be costly and even though there aren't that many magic sensitive beings on their world of Terra, a shift in the world's magic will effect the land, wildlife, and most likely draw attention to those that sense it.

“So we are back at square one.” Crimson snorted.

“Or we find an alternative to our dilemma.” Legacy said. All hoods turned towards him. “We made the effort to capture him why not use him.”

“I thought we were to keep him detained?” Crimson asked.

“We never fully discussed what we were to do with him. The Master wished him to be caught. Can't allow a rouge draconequus working for ponies and by that right has lost his privilage to his abilities.” Prophet stated as he looked him.

Up on the wall Discord, with his head hung low, was in a sorry state then the time he was turned to stone the second time. He was covered with cuts, mud, and blood that have caked themselves on him. His face just added on to his sorry state with dried blood from his mouth and his left eye was swollen shut.  Illuminating behind him was inscriptions circled around his body to keep him immobile, four cuffs on his hands and ankles prevented him the use of his magic, and crimson red ethereal spikes impaling him to the wall in a crucifying way. To top it off crimson chains warp around him and imbedding themselves in the wall.

“We can use him as a conduit summon our monster and have him rec havoc. Then when the Royal Sister intervene and with the help of the Bearers, perhaps an unfortunate accident will take place.” Blood Lust said licking her lips.

“No. I have a better proposition to offer. Instead of us summoning the creature lets make it look like some other pony did it. Lets say the new addition to alircon princesses.” Legacy stated drawing everyone's attention.

“I have learned in the past that Twilight Sparkle has a habit of study and practice of spells. Always trying to be the next Star Swirl the Bearded, she tends to do everything by the book and has on an occasion pull an all night study from time to time.”

“And you do you suppose we make her look like she did it?” Mythic asked.

“By giving her a false book.” Prophet stated.

It was the perfect camouflage. With Discord's power, they would be able to pull the creature from Tartarus and send it directly to the princess's face. They just have to monitor her when she activates the spell that they installed.

“But what if it too fails and she still lives? What then?” Shadow Twirl asked. Her concern was just should this go south.

“A fail safe then. Destroy any trace of the spell's origin. Destroying the book we give her after we made connection.” Crimson said.

“Well I guess you can think up a clever idea in that barbaric brain of yours.” Legacy smirked as he watch the stallion's mouth snarl showing his sharp teeth.

“Then it's settled. I'll call for you all later when everything is in set. I go talk to the Master and get his blessing. Perhaps he can pick our Prize for us.” Prophet spoke.

All nodded in agreement and turned towards the double doors behind Shadow and departed the room. Prophet stood there for a moment after the doors shut behind Legacy and looked back at Dicord.

“You really have let yourself go. This new affection you have allowed yourself to soak in will now be the end of your.”

Silence was returned as he just stared up at him. Spirit of Chaos has indeed fallen before them. In any other instance he would fought by his side as the world burned to the welcoming of their Master, but now it was nothing more then a false hope.

“Perhaps they will suffer a painless end.” He said heading towards the doors

“Because you won't.” shutting the door behind as he left.

Silence was all that remained and the steady breathing from Discord was all that remained in the red lit room. After another minuet pass and Discord opened his one good eye and looked towards the doors they all left out of. They think they can use him, then they have another thing coming. By this draconequus' over hanged tooth he will find away.

“I'm chaos.... after all.” Discord wheezed with a slight smirk.