Twilight Sparkle made her way through the small town of Ponyville her snout in a book held in place by her telekinetic magic. The day to day traffic of Ponyville parted around their new Princess like an ocean around a steadfast rock. The sight of the Princess of Friendship walking while reading was so familiar at this point that nopony paid a second glance. Twilight made her way through town and up to her castle. Her personal guard ( a largely ceremonial title, as the Princess had shown many times before her martial prowess) stepped aside and opened the doors for their monarch. Life went on in Ponyville, as it did everyday. The townsponies confident that their Princess would protect them from any threat that dared present itself.
But, deep bellow the surface of Equestria, a beast ,whose name is remembered only by itself, stirs in the darkness. The slayer of thousands, terror of far off worlds, Snustrok, Bane of Doomforests.
* * * * *
In a time before time, in a world that was not Equestria, Snustrok wandered the depths of the world. His wanderings never ending, nor had they a beginning. Some would later say that he was part of the void before the world was made, others say he was a demon escaped from Hell. No matter his origin, Snustrok only knew of hatred and death. Feeding on the pain and agony of those who were unlucky or foolish enough to find him. For centuries he wandered... until the first dwarven picks broke into the caverns and deep places of the world.
The dwarves of Doomforests, a newly established Mining Fortress, hungry for riches, had dug into the earth without abandon. Uncovering veins of Gold, Silver, and Iron. Fueled by their greed, they dug deeper still until they stumbled upon a great cavern. Giant mushrooms dominated the scenery as if an ugly mockery of the beautiful forests of the surface. Pools of water provided adequate supplies to nourish the odd critters that scurried under the feet of the dwarves. The dwarves, filled with curiosity, began to explore this new find. Months later, the dwarves had colonized this cave and great halls of stone were dug into the sides of the cavern and farms of mushrooms dotted the floor. Life was good for these dwarves. Then, came the snail.
The ground began to shake as if an earthquake had come. In the distance a plume of dust and debris was all that remained of one of the huge pillars of stone that supported the ceiling, dozens of feet above. Then the dwarves heard the screech of an old and powerful beast. The creature tore though the underground city, slaughtering all who opposed it. The military might of the dwarves was broken against this monster. Dozen upon dozens met their doom fighting against him. Until all that remained was the Mad Doctor, who had spent years studying the stars and medicine. It was in the Great Hall of Doomforests, where Snustrok met the Mad Doctor, only a single dwarf stood between the snail and the Main Gate beyond.
The Snail let out an ear piercing screech and lunged at the dwarf, but the Doctor deftly stepped aside and pulled a lever causing crates of soap held on the ceiling to fall. The crates landed on the forgotten beast and crushed him. The Doctor huffed and went off to get drunk. But, the snail was not done yet. As the soap fell he used all of his strength and power to open a gateway to a world, but as he was sliding though, the soap hit and he was knocked unconscious.
* * * * *
As the great terror awoke from his slumber, he let out a shriek of pure rage, the walls of stone he was surrounded by shook with his fury. He lashed out and great columns of stone where knocked over with his rage and strength. Then he stopped... his long useless eyes caught a glimpse of something. Sunlight. The Beast smiled to itself.
In Equestria, life continued for its citizens. In their palaces, the four Princesses trembled with fear.
