Melody of Darknessby Brickbrock24ChaptersPrologueChapter One: The KidnappingChapter 2: Melody's NewsChapter 3: An Angel's ConcernsPrologueMelody of Darkness Prologue “Why has your heart summoned me into this world, Master Falsum?” asked Fernus as he approached the sinister beating heart floating in a magic bubble above a pool of crimson blood. Ah, Fernus. I am glad to see that you have arrived without any complications, said Falsum telepathically inside Fernus’s head. I believe it is time for me for me to recover my flesh and be restored to my former glory. “And what exactly do you want me to do, my lord?” I sense a pony, a pegasus to be exact, who may hold the solution to my predicament. He and his friends have been a thorn in my side for quite some time now. He even defeated one of my top acolytes stationed in Equestria: Comet Nebula. “Did he now?” said Fernus, becoming more interested in the topic. Ah, such a pity. There was a lot of potential in the boy when I first whispered into his subconscious. But he broke one of the main rules of our pact: he fell in love. “Ha! How pathetic!” laughed Fernus while cracking his knuckles, “I assure you, Master Falsum, that I will not fail you like that pathetic mule! Now, what is the name of the pony who killed Comet Nebula?” His name is Galaxy Nebula, answered Falsum, And I sense much love within his family and his circle of friends. Vile, filthy, disgusting love that must be eliminated! “Just say the word, Falsum, and I will run right over to where he lives and fry him to a crisp. Then I will devour him in celebration with my fellow comrades!” As much as I would enjoy that, Fernus, I am afraid that I need Galaxy Nebula alive. Also, I have a plan that to make that nuisance and all of his meddling friends suffer greatly. The heart began to writhe and be enveloped in a streaks of purple lightning. Then, next to the pool of blood, a large portal opened from out of the blue. Ten Fenron hunters marched out of the portal before it closed and stood at attention before the heart of Falsum. Then, out of thin air, a few small glass bottles appeared in front of Fernus. Take a few bottles of my blood before you depart on your mission. They will be more than useful in my plan. “Very well, Master,” said Fernus as he grabbed the bottles and scooped blood from the pool. “Where am I to go?” Seek out the home of the friend of Galaxy Nebula who sells the beverage known as coffee. Once there, I will give you further instructions. You and your companions are not to draw attention from the ponies, Fernus! I do not need Celestia knowing that I am still alive! Do you understand? “I understand,” said Fernus with a bit of disappointment in his voice. He turned to his pack of Fenron and shouted, “Alright, boys! Let us head out and show the pathetic ponies of this world the true meaning of fear!” The other Fenron howled belligerently as they followed Fernus out of the cave Falsum’s heart was kept in and towards their destination. Chapter One: The KidnappingMelody of Darkness Chapter 1 The next night… It was a quiet and tranquil night in Ponyville. The stars in the sky twinkled as the full moon shone its light down upon Equestria. Most of the ponies in the town hd either gone to bed or were getting ready to turn in for the night. One of those ponies was a kind and gentle unicorn named Vanilla Mocha. She was a snow white unicorn with eyes the color of shamrocks and a luscious mane and tail as brown as chocolate. On her flank was a yellow star cutie mark. She sat comfortably in a chair, reading a bedtime story to her beautiful daughter Frostbyte. The filly had the same white coat as her mother, had a mane as black as coal and had two bright scarlet eyes. She also has vampire blood in her veins, but that didn’t come from Vanilla Mocha’s current husband, a pegasus named Scythea. “The monster chased the poor filly through the forest, snarling and drooling as it got closer inch by inch!” said Mocha to her daughter in a dramatic fashion. Frostbyte felt apprehensive of what was going to happen to the filly in the story and began to cower under her blankets. “But then-” Little Frosty leaned closer. The suspense was killing her. “-Then the filly heard a bang, followed by a thud! The great wizard Eldinor had come to save the day! He waved his staff and launched a great ball of fire towards the hideous monster! The monster managed the to dodge the blast and roared ferociously at Eldinor! Eldinor told the filly to run and leave him and the monster alone to battle!” “And then what happened?” asked Frostbyte with a strong sense of excitement and enthusiasm that twinkled in her eyes as she stared longingly at her mother. “I wish I could tell you, dear,” said Mocha as she shut the book and let out a drowsy yawn. “But it’s getting late. Time for you to go to sleep.” “Aaaaww! But I want to know what happens next!” complained Frosty, sounding as if she were about to throw a tantrum. “I’ll tell you the rest of the story tomorrow, honey. I promise,” said Mocha in a soothing voice as she tucked in her daughter and gave a kiss on the forehead. She then turned off the lamp on the desk beside Frostbyte’s bed, stood up and walked over to the door. Mocha turned her head, smiled at her daughter and said, “Good night, Frosty!” “Good night, Mom,” Frostbyte said as she laid her head down on her soft pillow and slowly closed her eyes. Meanwhile outside the house, Fernus and two of his Fenron were positioned on the roof, waiting and listening patiently. “Are the two of them in the bedroom?” asked Fernus to one of his companions, who was peeking into the bedroom with his head upside-down. “Heh heh heh, yeah they’re in the bedroom alright!” snickered the Fenron has he watched watched Vanilla Mocha and Scythea snuggled and kissed each other fiercely on their queen-sized bed. “I think the two are gonna canoodle pretty soon! Heh heh heh! I would have brought some popcorn with me if I knew this mission would come with a show!” “What the hell is wrong with you?” asked Fernus in a reprimanding manner, shaking his head in disapproval. “What other choice do I have?!” asked the Fenron soldier as he stood up and turned his attention on Fernus, “Master Falsum forbids me, and all of his followers, from being in a relationship! Watching stuff like what’s going on right below us is the only way I can fill that void in my life!” “You have a sick sense of pleasure, soldier,” said Fernus, “But I must not waste any more time scolding your disturbing fetishes. Master Falsum has given me his orders and now is the time to carry them out.” Fernus pointed to the Fenron staring into Mocha’s and Scythea’s bedroom. “You! Alert us if those two suspect something and leave their bedroom.” “Will do, boss!” said the Fenron, giving Fernus a thumbs up. Fernus turned to the other Fenron with him on the rooftop. “You! Keep a lookout for pegasi in the sky and ponies on the ground! Master Falsum ordered us to remain in the shadows and not draw attention from the enemy!” “You can count on me, sir!” said the Fenron, giving Fernus a salute before turning his eyes to the sky. “Alright, it is time for me to receive Falsum’s requested item!” Fernus cracked his neck and proceeded to slowly and silently climb down the wall to Frostbyte’s window. Fernus pushed up on the window and found that the owners of the house had foolishly left it unlocked. Fernus chuckled to himself that life had thrown him a bone and climbed inside. The room itself was almost completely dead with silence, save for the soft snoring of the little filly tucked away in her bed. Fernus skulked across the room towards the bed like a panther on the hunt, being ever so careful as to not make a sound. Fernus soon found himself looming over Vanilla Mocha’s daughter. Fernus maliciously grinned at the thought of the fun he was about to have with the filly. Then, with great swiftness, Fernus reached down and savagely yanked Frostbyte out of her bed by her neck. He quickly put his other hand over her mouth before she could scream in terror. Frostbyte was beyond terrified. She kicked and flailed her legs fiercely, trying to break away from the monster that was abducting her. She tried to cry for help, but it was no use. Her screams could not get through Fernus’s large hands. Fernus decided that he didn’t want to deal with the struggling filly anymore and, with one swift blow to her Frostbyte’s head, knocked her out cold. Fernus laid the filly down on the hardwood floor and took out one of the bottles of Falsum’s blood he had taken before he left the secret cave. He poured the blood on the floor and watched as its magic took effect. It was almost as if the blood were alive. The goop bubbled and oozed as it began to take the shape of Fernus’s victim. Within a few seconds, the blood became a perfect clone of Frostbyte. Fernus signaled to the blood clone to lay itself in Frostbyte’s bed. The clone nodded and followed Fernus’s orders, tucking itself into the bed and falling asleep. And so begins my master’s game begins, Fernus thought to himself as he picked the real Frostbyte and carried her out of the window and raced off to deliver the filly to the heart of Falsum. Chapter 2: Melody's NewsMelody of Darkness Chapter 2 It was a quiet winter morning in the town of Ponyville. The cool, crisp air nipped at the noses of the ponies who went on about their business. The streets of Ponyville were lined with a thin layer of snow. The fillies and colts were seen joyfully romping around in the snow-covered streets and fields and the adults headed to their jobs to start another long and hopefully productive day. It was a busy work day at Icy Mocha Cafe, the coffee shop that Vanilla Mocha and her husband Scythea had renamed and refurbished after they and their friends had defeated the twisted servant of darkness Comet Nebula for the final time. Customers were lining up all the way around the store, eager to escape the chilly air outside and warm themselves up with a piping hot cup of either coffee or cocoa. Mocha, Scythea, Galaxy Nebula, and Crystal Harmony were sweating bullets trying to fill out, create, and serve the large numbers of orders being demanded by the thirsty and shivering customers. Just then, Melody Note rushed through the entrance of the cafe and raced towards her father. She was wearing a lovely green scarf that was knitted by her mother Crystal Harmony for her sixteenth birthday. Even though she looked like she was going to pass out from exhaustion, Melody Note managed to maintain a twinkle of excitement in her mud-brown eyes. “Well, look who’s late again,” chided Galaxy Nebula, shaking his head in disappointment when he caught sight of his daughter. “Mel, you’ve been late for work just about everyday for the past few months! Where in Equestria were you this time?!” “I’m sorry, Daddy!” said Melody Note, so excited that she didn’t even care that she was in trouble, “But I’ve got some really good news!” “Are they more important than showing up to work on time?” asked Galaxy dryly, raising an eyebrow. His daughter being late to work wasn’t anything he hadn’t seen before. He sighed and stared at his daughter, waiting for whatever tawdry excuse Melody would tell her - like she had been doing for the past few months. “Galaxy, don’t be so hard on Melody!” said Crystal as she walked over to fer family to see what all the fuss was about. She gave her husband a chastising look, which made him feel slightly guilty inside. Crystal turned her head back towards Melody and asked her, “So, what’s this news of yours, sweetie?” “Get this! This weekend, Ponyville’s going to have a huge talent show this weekend!” said Melody Note, feeling like she was on top of the world. “A talent show?” said Galaxy. “Yeah! I saw a poster for it on the way to the cafe. I heard there’s going to be a lot of important music producers in the audience! Do you know what this means? This is my chance to show Equestria my talent and kick off my singing career!” Ah, a talent show, thought Frostbyte as she walked by acting as a fly on the wall. Such an interesting concept. A competition where one does not battle with weapons or combat magic, but rather with talents and hobbies. Such potential for achieving stardom- the blood clone let out a sinister grin -or for failure and humiliation. “Hahahaha! Did you hear that, Scarlet Sprinkle?” scoffed a voice that entered the cafe. “The dumb blonde blueberry thinks she actually has a shot at winning the talent show!” “You got that right, Crock Pot!” laughed a second teasing voice. “Hey, Melody! That caterwauling of yours is such a useless talent! It’s made even more useless due to the fact that you suck so hard at it!” “Stop making fun of me!” shouted Melody Note as she turned to face the two bullies that entered the cafe. The first one was a silvery colored and slightly chubby stallion with eyes like sapphires. He had a neatly combed snow white mane that looked as soft as cotton candy and cooking pot cutie mark on his flank. The bully next to him was a snobby looking unicorn mare with neon green eyes. Her coat was a bright scarlet color and her jet black mane was tied back in a ponytail. Her cutie mark was a pattern of blue and yellow sprinkles. “Hey, who the hell do you two think you are making fun of my daughter?” angrily asked Galaxy, approaching the two bullies in a threatening manner. “Oooh! Lookie here!” scoffed Scarlet Sprinkle. “The Blubbering Blueberry’s daddy is sticking up for her!” “Hey, buddy!” Crock Pot shouted to Galaxy Nebula, “How does it feel to be the father of a good-for-nothing daughter whose useless talent’s never gonna help put food on the table?” “Hell, I don’t even think she came from your wife, mister!” cackled Scarlet Sprinkle, “I’m pretty sure you bought that ugly blonde beast at the pet store!” “Hey, can she do any tricks? Can she roll over and fetch the newspaper?” “Why, you little…” said Galaxy furiously through his tightly gritted teeth. Never before in his life had he heard such insolent remarks shot in his direction before. “Hey! What did my husband do to deserve such hurtful insults?!” scolded Crystal. She was very defensive when it came to her family. “Well, for starters, he’s married to you,” answered Crock Pot with a jeer. “You’re only about a six out of ten in my books, lady. I mean, seriously, your bangs look like a walrus’ mustache!” “You bite your tongue, you horrible little pony!” shouted Crystal. The bully’s last comment stung her like a bee. “Alright, that’s enough!” shouted Vanilla Mocha as she trotted over to see what all the yelling was about. “I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my cafe! I want the two of you to get the hell out of here right now!” Mocha furiously pointed towards the exit with her hoof. From the icy glare that Mocha was giving them, Crock Pot and Scarlet Sprinkle knew that she wasn’t playing games. “Woah, woah, woah!” said Crock Pot, “We’re not leaving here without our hot chocolate!” “Well, you don’t deserve a drop of any of my beverages for how rudely you treat my friends!” “Oh, this is a load of bull!” shouted Scarlet Sprinkle, “You can’t refuse our business!” “Yes I can! GET OUT!!” screamed Mocha. “Fine! Come on, Scarlet, let’s blow this popsicle stand!” said Crock Pot. “You scumbags are gonna regret this! We’re gonna mop the floor with you at the talent show, Melody!” He shouted as he and Scarlet Sprinkle angrily stomped out of the cafe. Heh heh, such a pity that the show is now over, thought Frostbyte, Just what I love to see, a tasty race of enemies fighting amongst each other. It seems there is quite a bit conflict within this Melody Note’s life. Perhaps I can find a way to use this... As Frostbyte walked by Galaxy Nebula and his family, Galaxy suddenly felt a harsh chill down his spine and his head began to ache terribly. “Honey, what’s wrong?” asked Crystal Harmony when she noticed her husband was clenching his head with his hoof. “I-It’s nothing, Crystal.” said Galaxy, “I-I think I need to go for a walk.” Without saying another word, Galaxy strode out the door of Icy Mocha Cafe. “Alright, be back soon, Galaxy,” said Mocha as Galaxy hurried out the door. Mocha then turned to Crystal Harmony. “I’m sure glad those rude brats are gone.” “Hey, what’s going on over there?” asked Melody Note, pointing towards a group of ponies gathered at a single table. Crystal, Melody, and Mocha walked over to see what was going on. “Honey, what’s going on over here?” Mocha asked Scythea, who was among the group. “Ssssh!” abruptly said Icy, at which Mocha was slightly taken aback by at first. “Thunderbolt’s telling us a cool story! Listen!” “...And that’s when I saw it!” said Thunderbolt Sentinel to the ponies who sat around him, listening to his story enthusiastically. “I could only see its silhouette, but there was this huge creature, as tall as Celestia, creeping through the Everfree Forest!” “What did this thing look like?” asked Quillton Brooks, his curiosity shining brighter than everypony else. “From what I can remember, this thing seemed to walk on two legs, just like a human,” said Thunderbolt, scratching his chin as he tried to recall what he witnessed that night. “But it wasn’t a human. It looked like a huge, scary wolf-man with eyes that glowed in the darkness. It looked like it was dragging something through the forest.” “That’s preposterous!” said Quillton, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’ve seen and read about many creatures in Equestria, and no such creatures as the ones you’ve described exist in Equestria.” “Aw, why do you have to ruin a good story with your nerdy science, Quillton!” said Redvelvet Melody, who was among the group of spectators of Thunderbolt Sentinel’s interesting story. “I believe him. How cool is it that there’s an awesome sounding monster roaming around near Ponyville?” “Are you dense, Red?!” chided Quillton, annoyed by such a stupid question. “If this thing does exist, I’m not saying it does, what if it has a taste for ponies?” The question made Crystal Harmony quiver slightly. “Then I’ll give that monster the ol’ one-two!” said Redvelvet Melody in a cocky tone, cracking her hooves with a battle-hungry grin across her face. “Okay! Okay! I think we’ve heard enough!” said Vanilla Mocha, “Everypony who works here, let’s get back to work!” With that said, every employee in Icy Mocha Cafe left the table and got back to work. Everypony else went on about their business. Chapter 3: An Angel's ConcernsMelody of Darkness Chapter 3 Later that night... “You seem to be carrying a lot of stress and apprehension in your mind, Galaxy,” Castiel said to Galaxy as he meditated during a training session at Galaxy Nebula’s cottage for his newly discovered angel powers. “What’s on your mind?” “Nothing. Nothing’s wrong,” Galaxy lied as he tried to focus on his meditation. “I can sense distress inside you, my friend,” said Castiel, seeing right through Galaxy’s lie. “Talk to me. Is everything alright?” “It’s about my daughter, Melody Note,” Galaxy sighed. “She’s growing up so fast, and I fear she isn’t happy working at Icy Mocha with me.” “Ah, yes. It seemed like only yesterday that Melody Note was a tiny, naive little filly. But why do you claim she isn’t happy?” “Well, she’s almost always late to work. She never properly focuses on the job and she sneaks out during the day to practice singing. Most of the time, she just stares longingly out the window, waiting for the day to be over. And just today, she wouldn’t stop talking about how the talent show she signed up for would be her ticket to kickstart her music career.” “A talent show?” said Castiel with curiosity. “Why does this concern you? Do you not believe your daughter will do well?” “My daughter’s an excellent singer! But if talent agents and musical producers will be there like she claims, and she does really, REALLY well-” “You fear they will take Melody Note away from you,” Castiel said after figuring out Galaxy’s inner struggle. “Is that correct?” Galaxy nodded in a gloomy manner and let out another deep sigh. Castiel walked over to Galaxy and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “What am I going to do?” said Galaxy. “It was bad enough when Crystal took her along to defeat my brother, but now she’s thinking of leaving on her own!” Galaxy’s words became more panic filled, and his breathing increased at an alarming pace. It was like he was a dog panting on a hot day. “After everything my family has been through! How do I know something isn’t going to happen again?! What if some new evil leaps out of the blue the day after she leaves me and targets her?! If I’m not there to protect her, she’ll probably get killed or eaten or influenced or-” “Galaxy, please calm down!” shouted Castiel. “Take a deep breath and relax!” Galaxy did as he was told and began to calm down after his little panic attack. Once he was calm enough, Castiel continued to speak. “I understand that as a parent you are obligated to protect your daughter at any means necessary. But you must realize that you cannot hold on to her forever.” “I promised myself before she was born that I would always be there for her. To protect her at all costs and to make sure nothing bad ever happens to her.” “An admirable promise, Galaxy. But I’m afraid that such a promise is not possible to keep.” “What do you mean?” asked Galaxy, slightly flabbergasted at the angel’s response. “Why would I not want to keep horrible things from happening to Mel?” “Galaxy, things are going to happen to Melody Note whether you like it or not,” explained Castiel. “Life is not all tea and crumpets. There will be moments in Melody Note’s life that will not be so pleasant for her that will happen whether you keep her in Ponyville or you let her go start her own life. It’s a part of life that you cannot control, Galaxy.” “I understand,” Galaxy sighed. “By the way, there’s something I wanted to tell you earlier.” “What is it?” asked Castiel. “Well, the strangest thing happened to me today. After Mocha and I had finished shooing out a pair of vulgar thugs from Icy Mocha, I suddenly felt a sharp chill up my spine and my head began to hurt.” Castiel said nothing. But judging by the worried look in his eyes, Galaxy knew that what he said was no laughing matter. Castiel paced over to a window and looked out into the dark night. “Are you certain?” Castiel asked in a low and serious tone. “Yes,” responded Galaxy. He was confused at Castiel’s sudden anxiety. “What’s wrong?” “Angels, or those with angel blood in their veins, can sense when an evil presence is near. In particular, some sort of foul demon.” “Are you saying there was a demon in the cafe today?!” asked Galaxy, feeling frightened at what he was hearing. “But there wasn’t anything unusual there. Just the usual customers.” “Perhaps this demon is of the crafty sort. Perhaps he or she is a shapeshifter and he is disguised as a normal pony.” “What if this demon is pretending to be somepony close to me? Like Mocha or Quillton?” asked Galaxy. “Perhaps. But I would not jump to any conclusions unless you are certain who the demon is. We do not want to cause a panic. I would be careful about who you talk to until this demon is found. By the way, where is Crystal Harmony at?” “She’s out on a walk with my sister and Redvelvet Melody.” “She should not be out this late, for my angel senses have been tingling as well.” “Oh no!” Galaxy gasped, “Are you saying there’s more trouble out there other than what I felt at Icy Mocha?!” “I am highly certain,” Castiel answered, feeling discomforted at Galaxy’s terrified facial expression. “I fear for the safety of your wife and friends.” “Then I’ve got to go help her!” Galaxy shouted, bolting out the door of his home without so much as a second thought. “Galaxy, wait!” Castiel shouted, “We don’t know exactly what this enemy is! Galaxy!!” It was too late. Galaxy had already disappeared into the night to search for Crystal Harmony before something terrible happened to her... Author's Note What dangers lie ahead for our heroes? Stay tuned to find out!
PrologueMelody of Darkness Prologue “Why has your heart summoned me into this world, Master Falsum?” asked Fernus as he approached the sinister beating heart floating in a magic bubble above a pool of crimson blood. Ah, Fernus. I am glad to see that you have arrived without any complications, said Falsum telepathically inside Fernus’s head. I believe it is time for me for me to recover my flesh and be restored to my former glory. “And what exactly do you want me to do, my lord?” I sense a pony, a pegasus to be exact, who may hold the solution to my predicament. He and his friends have been a thorn in my side for quite some time now. He even defeated one of my top acolytes stationed in Equestria: Comet Nebula. “Did he now?” said Fernus, becoming more interested in the topic. Ah, such a pity. There was a lot of potential in the boy when I first whispered into his subconscious. But he broke one of the main rules of our pact: he fell in love. “Ha! How pathetic!” laughed Fernus while cracking his knuckles, “I assure you, Master Falsum, that I will not fail you like that pathetic mule! Now, what is the name of the pony who killed Comet Nebula?” His name is Galaxy Nebula, answered Falsum, And I sense much love within his family and his circle of friends. Vile, filthy, disgusting love that must be eliminated! “Just say the word, Falsum, and I will run right over to where he lives and fry him to a crisp. Then I will devour him in celebration with my fellow comrades!” As much as I would enjoy that, Fernus, I am afraid that I need Galaxy Nebula alive. Also, I have a plan that to make that nuisance and all of his meddling friends suffer greatly. The heart began to writhe and be enveloped in a streaks of purple lightning. Then, next to the pool of blood, a large portal opened from out of the blue. Ten Fenron hunters marched out of the portal before it closed and stood at attention before the heart of Falsum. Then, out of thin air, a few small glass bottles appeared in front of Fernus. Take a few bottles of my blood before you depart on your mission. They will be more than useful in my plan. “Very well, Master,” said Fernus as he grabbed the bottles and scooped blood from the pool. “Where am I to go?” Seek out the home of the friend of Galaxy Nebula who sells the beverage known as coffee. Once there, I will give you further instructions. You and your companions are not to draw attention from the ponies, Fernus! I do not need Celestia knowing that I am still alive! Do you understand? “I understand,” said Fernus with a bit of disappointment in his voice. He turned to his pack of Fenron and shouted, “Alright, boys! Let us head out and show the pathetic ponies of this world the true meaning of fear!” The other Fenron howled belligerently as they followed Fernus out of the cave Falsum’s heart was kept in and towards their destination.
Chapter One: The KidnappingMelody of Darkness Chapter 1 The next night… It was a quiet and tranquil night in Ponyville. The stars in the sky twinkled as the full moon shone its light down upon Equestria. Most of the ponies in the town hd either gone to bed or were getting ready to turn in for the night. One of those ponies was a kind and gentle unicorn named Vanilla Mocha. She was a snow white unicorn with eyes the color of shamrocks and a luscious mane and tail as brown as chocolate. On her flank was a yellow star cutie mark. She sat comfortably in a chair, reading a bedtime story to her beautiful daughter Frostbyte. The filly had the same white coat as her mother, had a mane as black as coal and had two bright scarlet eyes. She also has vampire blood in her veins, but that didn’t come from Vanilla Mocha’s current husband, a pegasus named Scythea. “The monster chased the poor filly through the forest, snarling and drooling as it got closer inch by inch!” said Mocha to her daughter in a dramatic fashion. Frostbyte felt apprehensive of what was going to happen to the filly in the story and began to cower under her blankets. “But then-” Little Frosty leaned closer. The suspense was killing her. “-Then the filly heard a bang, followed by a thud! The great wizard Eldinor had come to save the day! He waved his staff and launched a great ball of fire towards the hideous monster! The monster managed the to dodge the blast and roared ferociously at Eldinor! Eldinor told the filly to run and leave him and the monster alone to battle!” “And then what happened?” asked Frostbyte with a strong sense of excitement and enthusiasm that twinkled in her eyes as she stared longingly at her mother. “I wish I could tell you, dear,” said Mocha as she shut the book and let out a drowsy yawn. “But it’s getting late. Time for you to go to sleep.” “Aaaaww! But I want to know what happens next!” complained Frosty, sounding as if she were about to throw a tantrum. “I’ll tell you the rest of the story tomorrow, honey. I promise,” said Mocha in a soothing voice as she tucked in her daughter and gave a kiss on the forehead. She then turned off the lamp on the desk beside Frostbyte’s bed, stood up and walked over to the door. Mocha turned her head, smiled at her daughter and said, “Good night, Frosty!” “Good night, Mom,” Frostbyte said as she laid her head down on her soft pillow and slowly closed her eyes. Meanwhile outside the house, Fernus and two of his Fenron were positioned on the roof, waiting and listening patiently. “Are the two of them in the bedroom?” asked Fernus to one of his companions, who was peeking into the bedroom with his head upside-down. “Heh heh heh, yeah they’re in the bedroom alright!” snickered the Fenron has he watched watched Vanilla Mocha and Scythea snuggled and kissed each other fiercely on their queen-sized bed. “I think the two are gonna canoodle pretty soon! Heh heh heh! I would have brought some popcorn with me if I knew this mission would come with a show!” “What the hell is wrong with you?” asked Fernus in a reprimanding manner, shaking his head in disapproval. “What other choice do I have?!” asked the Fenron soldier as he stood up and turned his attention on Fernus, “Master Falsum forbids me, and all of his followers, from being in a relationship! Watching stuff like what’s going on right below us is the only way I can fill that void in my life!” “You have a sick sense of pleasure, soldier,” said Fernus, “But I must not waste any more time scolding your disturbing fetishes. Master Falsum has given me his orders and now is the time to carry them out.” Fernus pointed to the Fenron staring into Mocha’s and Scythea’s bedroom. “You! Alert us if those two suspect something and leave their bedroom.” “Will do, boss!” said the Fenron, giving Fernus a thumbs up. Fernus turned to the other Fenron with him on the rooftop. “You! Keep a lookout for pegasi in the sky and ponies on the ground! Master Falsum ordered us to remain in the shadows and not draw attention from the enemy!” “You can count on me, sir!” said the Fenron, giving Fernus a salute before turning his eyes to the sky. “Alright, it is time for me to receive Falsum’s requested item!” Fernus cracked his neck and proceeded to slowly and silently climb down the wall to Frostbyte’s window. Fernus pushed up on the window and found that the owners of the house had foolishly left it unlocked. Fernus chuckled to himself that life had thrown him a bone and climbed inside. The room itself was almost completely dead with silence, save for the soft snoring of the little filly tucked away in her bed. Fernus skulked across the room towards the bed like a panther on the hunt, being ever so careful as to not make a sound. Fernus soon found himself looming over Vanilla Mocha’s daughter. Fernus maliciously grinned at the thought of the fun he was about to have with the filly. Then, with great swiftness, Fernus reached down and savagely yanked Frostbyte out of her bed by her neck. He quickly put his other hand over her mouth before she could scream in terror. Frostbyte was beyond terrified. She kicked and flailed her legs fiercely, trying to break away from the monster that was abducting her. She tried to cry for help, but it was no use. Her screams could not get through Fernus’s large hands. Fernus decided that he didn’t want to deal with the struggling filly anymore and, with one swift blow to her Frostbyte’s head, knocked her out cold. Fernus laid the filly down on the hardwood floor and took out one of the bottles of Falsum’s blood he had taken before he left the secret cave. He poured the blood on the floor and watched as its magic took effect. It was almost as if the blood were alive. The goop bubbled and oozed as it began to take the shape of Fernus’s victim. Within a few seconds, the blood became a perfect clone of Frostbyte. Fernus signaled to the blood clone to lay itself in Frostbyte’s bed. The clone nodded and followed Fernus’s orders, tucking itself into the bed and falling asleep. And so begins my master’s game begins, Fernus thought to himself as he picked the real Frostbyte and carried her out of the window and raced off to deliver the filly to the heart of Falsum.
Chapter 2: Melody's NewsMelody of Darkness Chapter 2 It was a quiet winter morning in the town of Ponyville. The cool, crisp air nipped at the noses of the ponies who went on about their business. The streets of Ponyville were lined with a thin layer of snow. The fillies and colts were seen joyfully romping around in the snow-covered streets and fields and the adults headed to their jobs to start another long and hopefully productive day. It was a busy work day at Icy Mocha Cafe, the coffee shop that Vanilla Mocha and her husband Scythea had renamed and refurbished after they and their friends had defeated the twisted servant of darkness Comet Nebula for the final time. Customers were lining up all the way around the store, eager to escape the chilly air outside and warm themselves up with a piping hot cup of either coffee or cocoa. Mocha, Scythea, Galaxy Nebula, and Crystal Harmony were sweating bullets trying to fill out, create, and serve the large numbers of orders being demanded by the thirsty and shivering customers. Just then, Melody Note rushed through the entrance of the cafe and raced towards her father. She was wearing a lovely green scarf that was knitted by her mother Crystal Harmony for her sixteenth birthday. Even though she looked like she was going to pass out from exhaustion, Melody Note managed to maintain a twinkle of excitement in her mud-brown eyes. “Well, look who’s late again,” chided Galaxy Nebula, shaking his head in disappointment when he caught sight of his daughter. “Mel, you’ve been late for work just about everyday for the past few months! Where in Equestria were you this time?!” “I’m sorry, Daddy!” said Melody Note, so excited that she didn’t even care that she was in trouble, “But I’ve got some really good news!” “Are they more important than showing up to work on time?” asked Galaxy dryly, raising an eyebrow. His daughter being late to work wasn’t anything he hadn’t seen before. He sighed and stared at his daughter, waiting for whatever tawdry excuse Melody would tell her - like she had been doing for the past few months. “Galaxy, don’t be so hard on Melody!” said Crystal as she walked over to fer family to see what all the fuss was about. She gave her husband a chastising look, which made him feel slightly guilty inside. Crystal turned her head back towards Melody and asked her, “So, what’s this news of yours, sweetie?” “Get this! This weekend, Ponyville’s going to have a huge talent show this weekend!” said Melody Note, feeling like she was on top of the world. “A talent show?” said Galaxy. “Yeah! I saw a poster for it on the way to the cafe. I heard there’s going to be a lot of important music producers in the audience! Do you know what this means? This is my chance to show Equestria my talent and kick off my singing career!” Ah, a talent show, thought Frostbyte as she walked by acting as a fly on the wall. Such an interesting concept. A competition where one does not battle with weapons or combat magic, but rather with talents and hobbies. Such potential for achieving stardom- the blood clone let out a sinister grin -or for failure and humiliation. “Hahahaha! Did you hear that, Scarlet Sprinkle?” scoffed a voice that entered the cafe. “The dumb blonde blueberry thinks she actually has a shot at winning the talent show!” “You got that right, Crock Pot!” laughed a second teasing voice. “Hey, Melody! That caterwauling of yours is such a useless talent! It’s made even more useless due to the fact that you suck so hard at it!” “Stop making fun of me!” shouted Melody Note as she turned to face the two bullies that entered the cafe. The first one was a silvery colored and slightly chubby stallion with eyes like sapphires. He had a neatly combed snow white mane that looked as soft as cotton candy and cooking pot cutie mark on his flank. The bully next to him was a snobby looking unicorn mare with neon green eyes. Her coat was a bright scarlet color and her jet black mane was tied back in a ponytail. Her cutie mark was a pattern of blue and yellow sprinkles. “Hey, who the hell do you two think you are making fun of my daughter?” angrily asked Galaxy, approaching the two bullies in a threatening manner. “Oooh! Lookie here!” scoffed Scarlet Sprinkle. “The Blubbering Blueberry’s daddy is sticking up for her!” “Hey, buddy!” Crock Pot shouted to Galaxy Nebula, “How does it feel to be the father of a good-for-nothing daughter whose useless talent’s never gonna help put food on the table?” “Hell, I don’t even think she came from your wife, mister!” cackled Scarlet Sprinkle, “I’m pretty sure you bought that ugly blonde beast at the pet store!” “Hey, can she do any tricks? Can she roll over and fetch the newspaper?” “Why, you little…” said Galaxy furiously through his tightly gritted teeth. Never before in his life had he heard such insolent remarks shot in his direction before. “Hey! What did my husband do to deserve such hurtful insults?!” scolded Crystal. She was very defensive when it came to her family. “Well, for starters, he’s married to you,” answered Crock Pot with a jeer. “You’re only about a six out of ten in my books, lady. I mean, seriously, your bangs look like a walrus’ mustache!” “You bite your tongue, you horrible little pony!” shouted Crystal. The bully’s last comment stung her like a bee. “Alright, that’s enough!” shouted Vanilla Mocha as she trotted over to see what all the yelling was about. “I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my cafe! I want the two of you to get the hell out of here right now!” Mocha furiously pointed towards the exit with her hoof. From the icy glare that Mocha was giving them, Crock Pot and Scarlet Sprinkle knew that she wasn’t playing games. “Woah, woah, woah!” said Crock Pot, “We’re not leaving here without our hot chocolate!” “Well, you don’t deserve a drop of any of my beverages for how rudely you treat my friends!” “Oh, this is a load of bull!” shouted Scarlet Sprinkle, “You can’t refuse our business!” “Yes I can! GET OUT!!” screamed Mocha. “Fine! Come on, Scarlet, let’s blow this popsicle stand!” said Crock Pot. “You scumbags are gonna regret this! We’re gonna mop the floor with you at the talent show, Melody!” He shouted as he and Scarlet Sprinkle angrily stomped out of the cafe. Heh heh, such a pity that the show is now over, thought Frostbyte, Just what I love to see, a tasty race of enemies fighting amongst each other. It seems there is quite a bit conflict within this Melody Note’s life. Perhaps I can find a way to use this... As Frostbyte walked by Galaxy Nebula and his family, Galaxy suddenly felt a harsh chill down his spine and his head began to ache terribly. “Honey, what’s wrong?” asked Crystal Harmony when she noticed her husband was clenching his head with his hoof. “I-It’s nothing, Crystal.” said Galaxy, “I-I think I need to go for a walk.” Without saying another word, Galaxy strode out the door of Icy Mocha Cafe. “Alright, be back soon, Galaxy,” said Mocha as Galaxy hurried out the door. Mocha then turned to Crystal Harmony. “I’m sure glad those rude brats are gone.” “Hey, what’s going on over there?” asked Melody Note, pointing towards a group of ponies gathered at a single table. Crystal, Melody, and Mocha walked over to see what was going on. “Honey, what’s going on over here?” Mocha asked Scythea, who was among the group. “Ssssh!” abruptly said Icy, at which Mocha was slightly taken aback by at first. “Thunderbolt’s telling us a cool story! Listen!” “...And that’s when I saw it!” said Thunderbolt Sentinel to the ponies who sat around him, listening to his story enthusiastically. “I could only see its silhouette, but there was this huge creature, as tall as Celestia, creeping through the Everfree Forest!” “What did this thing look like?” asked Quillton Brooks, his curiosity shining brighter than everypony else. “From what I can remember, this thing seemed to walk on two legs, just like a human,” said Thunderbolt, scratching his chin as he tried to recall what he witnessed that night. “But it wasn’t a human. It looked like a huge, scary wolf-man with eyes that glowed in the darkness. It looked like it was dragging something through the forest.” “That’s preposterous!” said Quillton, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’ve seen and read about many creatures in Equestria, and no such creatures as the ones you’ve described exist in Equestria.” “Aw, why do you have to ruin a good story with your nerdy science, Quillton!” said Redvelvet Melody, who was among the group of spectators of Thunderbolt Sentinel’s interesting story. “I believe him. How cool is it that there’s an awesome sounding monster roaming around near Ponyville?” “Are you dense, Red?!” chided Quillton, annoyed by such a stupid question. “If this thing does exist, I’m not saying it does, what if it has a taste for ponies?” The question made Crystal Harmony quiver slightly. “Then I’ll give that monster the ol’ one-two!” said Redvelvet Melody in a cocky tone, cracking her hooves with a battle-hungry grin across her face. “Okay! Okay! I think we’ve heard enough!” said Vanilla Mocha, “Everypony who works here, let’s get back to work!” With that said, every employee in Icy Mocha Cafe left the table and got back to work. Everypony else went on about their business.
Chapter 3: An Angel's ConcernsMelody of Darkness Chapter 3 Later that night... “You seem to be carrying a lot of stress and apprehension in your mind, Galaxy,” Castiel said to Galaxy as he meditated during a training session at Galaxy Nebula’s cottage for his newly discovered angel powers. “What’s on your mind?” “Nothing. Nothing’s wrong,” Galaxy lied as he tried to focus on his meditation. “I can sense distress inside you, my friend,” said Castiel, seeing right through Galaxy’s lie. “Talk to me. Is everything alright?” “It’s about my daughter, Melody Note,” Galaxy sighed. “She’s growing up so fast, and I fear she isn’t happy working at Icy Mocha with me.” “Ah, yes. It seemed like only yesterday that Melody Note was a tiny, naive little filly. But why do you claim she isn’t happy?” “Well, she’s almost always late to work. She never properly focuses on the job and she sneaks out during the day to practice singing. Most of the time, she just stares longingly out the window, waiting for the day to be over. And just today, she wouldn’t stop talking about how the talent show she signed up for would be her ticket to kickstart her music career.” “A talent show?” said Castiel with curiosity. “Why does this concern you? Do you not believe your daughter will do well?” “My daughter’s an excellent singer! But if talent agents and musical producers will be there like she claims, and she does really, REALLY well-” “You fear they will take Melody Note away from you,” Castiel said after figuring out Galaxy’s inner struggle. “Is that correct?” Galaxy nodded in a gloomy manner and let out another deep sigh. Castiel walked over to Galaxy and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “What am I going to do?” said Galaxy. “It was bad enough when Crystal took her along to defeat my brother, but now she’s thinking of leaving on her own!” Galaxy’s words became more panic filled, and his breathing increased at an alarming pace. It was like he was a dog panting on a hot day. “After everything my family has been through! How do I know something isn’t going to happen again?! What if some new evil leaps out of the blue the day after she leaves me and targets her?! If I’m not there to protect her, she’ll probably get killed or eaten or influenced or-” “Galaxy, please calm down!” shouted Castiel. “Take a deep breath and relax!” Galaxy did as he was told and began to calm down after his little panic attack. Once he was calm enough, Castiel continued to speak. “I understand that as a parent you are obligated to protect your daughter at any means necessary. But you must realize that you cannot hold on to her forever.” “I promised myself before she was born that I would always be there for her. To protect her at all costs and to make sure nothing bad ever happens to her.” “An admirable promise, Galaxy. But I’m afraid that such a promise is not possible to keep.” “What do you mean?” asked Galaxy, slightly flabbergasted at the angel’s response. “Why would I not want to keep horrible things from happening to Mel?” “Galaxy, things are going to happen to Melody Note whether you like it or not,” explained Castiel. “Life is not all tea and crumpets. There will be moments in Melody Note’s life that will not be so pleasant for her that will happen whether you keep her in Ponyville or you let her go start her own life. It’s a part of life that you cannot control, Galaxy.” “I understand,” Galaxy sighed. “By the way, there’s something I wanted to tell you earlier.” “What is it?” asked Castiel. “Well, the strangest thing happened to me today. After Mocha and I had finished shooing out a pair of vulgar thugs from Icy Mocha, I suddenly felt a sharp chill up my spine and my head began to hurt.” Castiel said nothing. But judging by the worried look in his eyes, Galaxy knew that what he said was no laughing matter. Castiel paced over to a window and looked out into the dark night. “Are you certain?” Castiel asked in a low and serious tone. “Yes,” responded Galaxy. He was confused at Castiel’s sudden anxiety. “What’s wrong?” “Angels, or those with angel blood in their veins, can sense when an evil presence is near. In particular, some sort of foul demon.” “Are you saying there was a demon in the cafe today?!” asked Galaxy, feeling frightened at what he was hearing. “But there wasn’t anything unusual there. Just the usual customers.” “Perhaps this demon is of the crafty sort. Perhaps he or she is a shapeshifter and he is disguised as a normal pony.” “What if this demon is pretending to be somepony close to me? Like Mocha or Quillton?” asked Galaxy. “Perhaps. But I would not jump to any conclusions unless you are certain who the demon is. We do not want to cause a panic. I would be careful about who you talk to until this demon is found. By the way, where is Crystal Harmony at?” “She’s out on a walk with my sister and Redvelvet Melody.” “She should not be out this late, for my angel senses have been tingling as well.” “Oh no!” Galaxy gasped, “Are you saying there’s more trouble out there other than what I felt at Icy Mocha?!” “I am highly certain,” Castiel answered, feeling discomforted at Galaxy’s terrified facial expression. “I fear for the safety of your wife and friends.” “Then I’ve got to go help her!” Galaxy shouted, bolting out the door of his home without so much as a second thought. “Galaxy, wait!” Castiel shouted, “We don’t know exactly what this enemy is! Galaxy!!” It was too late. Galaxy had already disappeared into the night to search for Crystal Harmony before something terrible happened to her... Author's Note What dangers lie ahead for our heroes? Stay tuned to find out!
