Assassinverse: The Blackest Night

A group of soldiers stalked down the once-lively streets of Manehattan, clad in the uniform of the Traditionalists, some of whom had wings sprouting from their backs and horns from their heads. Six years ago, this street would’ve been one of many in Equestria, bright and glistening with lights and neon signs. Now, however, it was nothing more than a warzone, the result of a bloody Civil War that had all but destroyed Equestria.

“All clear so far,” said one of the soldiers to his commanding officer, his helmet distorting his voice

“Stay sharp, stallions… you never know where The Fallen Princess could be hiding, waiting to pounce,” the commander said to his squad.

“Are… are the rumors true, sir? The rumors about The Fallen Princess? I heard her dark powers are greater and more terrible than even King Sombra,” said one of soldiers.

“I heard her powers are fueled by the hearts of her victims, and that everywhere she goes… death follows,”said another.

”Yeah, they’re true all right, said the commanding officer. “I’m still surprised Celestia and Luna have been keeping her in line as well as they have. Creature like that, you’d think she would answer to no one, not even Faust herself.”

Unbeknownst to the soldiers, the very being of which they spoke of was watching them. Perched on the rooftop of a building some 900 yards away was what would appear to be a pony, but upon closer inspection, it could be seen that if she was at one point a pony, she certainly wasn’t anymore. She resembled an alicorn princess, but her large wings were nothing more than exposed bones. Her matted corpse-gray fur had a faint hint of lavender to it. Her mane and tail were jet-black with a gray stripe in them. Her eyes were jet-black and a violent shade of purple. She wore an open black leather overcoat with a hood, underneath which was a black tanktop bearing an unknown symbol, black pants with a black leather belt bearing the same symbol that was on her chest, and black heeled leather boots. On her right hand was a black ring that bore the same insignia as her belt and tanktop. In other words, she looked something like the Angel of Death.

It all started the day I died. If you’ve read the Progressive version of my obituary it’d tell you that I was a lone voice of change, a national hero, beloved by all who knew her personally, survived by my mother, father, older brother, sister-in-law, and my adopted dragon son. lf you’ve read the Traditionalist version of my obituary, it’d write me off as some power-hungry know-it-all who wanted nothing more than to overthrow Celestia and Luna to claim power for myself and run Equestria into the ground. I’ll let you decide which of those you want to believe. Neither of those are who I am now. Because the day I died was the day I truly began to live.

In life, I was Princess Twilight Sparkle, newly minted alicorn princess and voice of progress. In death, I am darkness incarnate. I am death. I am vengeance. They call me a monster, a demon. I am The Fallen Princess. I am The Black Lantern.

I’m sure you’re wondering how I ended up like this. However, a more detailed explanation will have to wait a moment or two. Right now, it’s time to have some fun.

With one small step the figure dropped down to the ground and caused a small shockwave upon impact. She smirked as she looked ahead and started running. She leaped over a few cars and caught up to the group on soldiers, summoning a pair of black swords from seemingly nowhere. As she ran by each one she quickly made a slashing motion with the swords before grabbing the leader. Each soldier then dropped down dead, cut cleanly in two.

“Heard you were looking for me… like what you see?” The Black Lantern asked in her dark raspy voice. The captain could only gasp and grunt in response since he was grabbed by the throat. “Oh what’s wrong? Can’t get a good breath of air? How do you think I feel when you assholes keep hunting me? You and your Traditionalist friends killed me once already. I’ll be damned if you do it a second time,” she growled as she then brought him close A big smile formed on her face. “Tell me… do you fear death?”

On that last word, The Black Lantern tore off the captain’s chest armor and exposed his bare chest. She then summoned a small black knife out of thin air and began to tear into the stallion’s chest, before finally prying out his heart. Letting the body fall to the ground, The Black Lantern, with an expression that seemed to suggest that she was about to feast on the most delicious snack imaginable, took the heart in both hands, licked it a couple of times, and promptly began eating it. As she did, she felt her dark powers beginning to recharge. Once she’d completely consumed the heart

Now that that’s taken care of, we can begin the story properly. Like I was saying before, it all started the day I died…

…

A purple anthro Alicorn with a dark blue mane and tail, both of which had a magenta stripe in them, entered one of the vast guest bedrooms within Canterlot Castle, a thoroughly depressed look on her face. She wore an elegant lavender dress, a pink diamond necklace, and brown sandals with heels. Upon her head was a golden tiara. This was Twilight Sparkle, recently-crowned Princess of Equestria… although, at the moment, she was wishing she was still an ordinary Unicorn, getting ready for bed in her old treehouse/library home, back before Tirek had smashed it to splinters… back before she had to put up with all of this hatred and anger towards her and her politics.

I just don’t understand it… why do they hate me so much? thought Twilight as she striped down to her black bra and panties. It’s not like I’ve done anything horrible to them… I’m just trying to make sure that Equestria isn’t left behind in this ever-evolving world we live in now. I mean, right now Equestria is laughably out gunned, lovers of two different species can’t get married, no matter how much they want to, and the Council is made up of royals and nobles who only have interest in themselves rather than the common good.

As Twilight snuggled into the blankets and bedsheets, she felt a wave of hopelessness wash over her. Maybe I’m not meant to be a Princess of Equestria is this is how ponies are going to treat me… maybe I should just step down…

No, Twilight. You can’t step down now. Do you really think all of this hatred will just go away because you’re not a Princess anymore? a stronger voice told Twilight deep in her subconscious

Immediately, Twilight reached into a bedside dresser drawer and pulled out three pictures. One of them was of her and her friends, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. The second was of her and the other three Princesses, Celestia, Luna, and Cadence, all of them looking very formal and elegant in their dresses. The third was a picture of a pegasus stallion with orange fur and a blue mane and tail wearing a Royal Guard dress uniform. This was Flash Sentry, Twilight’s secret coltfriend… although, she was starting to suspect that he was getting ready to propose to her.

Twilight thought for a moment about what this might mean for them, given all the hate she’d received. Flash must truly and deeply love her if he was willing to risk going through all of the same minotaur shit she’d been through… and if he wanted to start a family with her.

Twilight smiled. As long as she had this group of ponies by her side, she could take anything those nay-sayers and Traditionalists threw at her.

And with that, Twilight returned the pictures to the drawer, and closed her eyes… completely unaware of what was going on right under her muzzle.

…

“Well? Are we going to do this thing or what?” grumbled a voice in the shadows to one of its four fellows.

“Are you really sure about this? I mean, we’re about to MURDER A PRINCESS-”

“Shut up! Do you want to get us arrested? Besides, we’ve got the one thing that can make our troubles that much easier.”

As the voice said this, a faint gleam of light from a shining blade appeared. A gasp was heard.

“Is that… is that really-”

“Orichalum. The boss stallion had this thing forged just for this sole purpose… something about getting some mare drunk enough not to stand on her own two hooves or something like that. Anyways, this is our room.”

As the five shadowy figures reached the bedroom, they silently opened the door. There, sleeping soundly on the bed, was Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“Well? Who wants the honors?” asked one of the voices.

“I’ll do it.”

“She’s all yours, Gallant.”

As the single figure crept silently into the room, the orichalum blade in his hand, they felt as though a huge weight was resting upon their shoulders. Finally, the figure clamped his hand down over Twilight’s nose and mouth, causing her to awaken.

“Get on her! Keep her down!”

As the other four figures held Twilight down, the princess tried to muster up some magic. However, before the princess could muster the magic to fend off her assassin, the orichalam blade slashed across her throat, cutting deep into her flesh. As blood gushed out of the wound in her throat, Twilight stared in horror at her attacker, unable to scream or even breathe as they continued to stab her. Finally, after a moment of fruitless struggling, Twilight went limp and cold, and her eyes turned glassy. She was dead.

“Good job, now let’s get the buck out of here!”

And with that, the five killers ran for it, leaving their handy work behind.

…

Princess Celestia, an anthro alicorn mare with alabaster fur and a mane that resembled the lush green fields, the open blue sky, and the pink of love and compassion, yawned and stretched as she woke up and climbed out of her vast four-poster bed and made her way over to the balcony on the other side. Stepping onto the cold white marble, Celestia channeled her energies and focused them at the blazing golden sunset. With seemingly no effort at all, Celestia raised the sun to such a position that gravity would be able to take care of the rest until sundown, where Luna would take over and raise her moon.

Celestia smiled. Looks like it’s gonna be a beautiful day… considering, she thought to herself, thinking back to all of her prized pupil’s troubles as of late. I don’t understand it. If these Traditionalists can’t bring themselves to trust Twilight, then why can’t they trust me? It’s not like I’m in any danger. If Twilight really wanted to seize control of Equestria, she would’ve done it by now, and considering how strong she already was as a unicorn, I don’t think Luna and I could handle her now as an alico-

Celestia’s inner dialogue was interrupted by a member of her guard bursting into her room, a mingled look of panic and embarrassment at seeing his leader in her nightclothes. “P-Princess C-C-C-Celestia… f-f-f-forgive m-m-m-me,” stammered the guard as he started to turn beet red.

Celestia frowned. What could’ve possibly happened to get this guard all worked up like this. “It’s all right, just tell me what’s wrong,” she said.

“I-I-I-I-It’s P-P-P-P-Princess T-Twilight… sh-she’s b-b-been… m-m-m-m-m-murdered!”

Celestia could almost hear the glass in her mind breaking into a million pieces. Part of her wanted to dismiss and demote the guard because of his lies… and yet, the look on his face and the way he was acting was very, very hard to fake.

“T-Take me to her,” said Celestia, doing her best to sound dignified.

The guard was taken aback. “Your Majesty, are you-” he began to say, only to be drowned out by Celestia’s anguished voice.

”TAKE ME TO HER, I NEED TO SEE HER!” wailed Celestia.

Nodding to show he understood, the guard led Princess Celestia out of her room and through the halls to Twilight’s room, where a small crowd had gathered, mostly consisting of royal guardsponies.

“Let me through! Let me through!” yelled Celestia.

The crowd made way for her. And then Celestia saw her. Her worst fears had been confirmed.

Princess Twilight Sparkle lay on her bed as a couple of guardsponies moved around her, examining the crime scene, while a third, who had orange fur and a dark blue mane and tail, sobbed uncontrollably and stroked Celestia’s pupil’s mane. Blood was splattered all over the bedsheets, and there was a dark slash across Twilight’s throat.

Princess Celestia couldn’t believe it. She closed her eyes and called upon a healing spell. Twilight’s injuries were repaired but the alicorn did not awaken. Celestia tried a shock spell. Twilight’s body shook and vibrate as though it’d recieved and electrical shock, but still she did not awaken.

No matter what the tear-soaked Princess Celestia tried, she could not get any response from her beloved student. Finally, she was forced to face the truth.

Twilight Sparkle had been slain in her sleep.

“Twilight… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” wailed Celestia as she fell to her knees and wept.

…

At the request of Princess Celestia, the Pegasi Weather Patrol had made the sky almost completely hidden under a shroud of dark gray clouds that poured rain upon those adorned in black who’d arrived for the state funeral for Princess Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia watched on as more and more ponies filed past the glass coffin that contained the purple princess, who looked so at peace, wearing her coronation gown, her hands forever holding a bouquet of enchanted flowers that wouldn’t wilt for a hundred years… and she couldn’t stop herself from weeping. She blamed herself for bringing this fate upon her most faithful student. If she hadn’t made her a Princess, none of this would have happened.

Finally, once everyone was seated before the large podium that had been set up, it was time for the eulogies.

"Fillies and gentlecolts... today, we are here to celebrate the life of one very special unicorn, who ascended to become an alicorn princess... only to be taken from us in such a cruel fashion," said Celestia, a glistening tear on her cheek as she began her speech, pausing a moment before she could find her voice. "Twilight Sparkle was... like a daughter to me. I remember the day I met her, the day of her entrance examination... she seemed so happy, so full of life, so eager to learn new things… I could use so many words but they would never be able to truly convey how wonderful she is…. except maybe stubborn. Once she was sure of something she set to it…. and perhaps loyal as well….. I-I’m sorry… forgive me.” Celestia said as she ran off the stage, tears falling behind her, along with Pinkie Pie and Luna.

Fluttershy, swallowing her pride and with as much courage as she could muster, took the stage.

"H-Hi... I'm Fluttershy," murmured Fluttershy, her knees shaking from both fear and sadness. "T-Twilight... was... one of my... best... friends... and... I MISS HER SO MUCH!" she wailed at the top of her lungs, causing several ponies attending the funeral to jump. Mere moments later, Fluttershy passed out from both her stage fright and sadness. The rest of the funeral, compared to the beginning, however, was really quite uneventful.

Finally, it was time for Shining Armor to do his part… something that, no matter how many times he had to it, never got any easier: honor guard. Today, however, he wasn’t just saying good-bye to one of his comrades… he was saying good-bye to the baby sister he’d watched grow up from the day she was born.

“H-honor guard!” he barked, his voice choked up. As one, the guard ponies who stood in their black dress uniforms snapped to attention, their horns glowing. “Ready… aim… FIRE!” barked Shining Armor.

As one, the soldiers fired off colorful blasts of magic, which exploded into fireworks with a loud Boom!

“Ready… aim… FIRE!”

Boom!

“Ready… aim… FIRE!”

Boom!

“Ready… aim… FIRE!”

With the last Boom! Everypony began to depart the funeral and return home. Not among them was Spike Sparkle, who was a well-built purple and green dragon as tall as a full-grown stallion, despite still being a teenager. He was clad in a black suit and tie as he approached his mother’s glass coffin and sank to his knees beside it, weeping.

“I promise you, Mom. I will get stronger and I will avenge you,” Spike whispered once his tears had been reduced to dry sobs.

Finally pulling himself together, Spike stood up and placed a kiss on his mother’s coffin, before returning to the castle to join the others.

…

One week later…

In the vast darkness of space, a black comet the size of a pebble was hurtling towards Equis. Breaking through the planet’s atmosphere, the comet made its way towards the Canterlot Castle Gardens, and made what looked like a bullet hole in the glass coffin of Princess Twilight Sparkle before stopping on a dime. The “comet” was in fact a black ring shimmering with an unknown dark energy. The ring floated over to Twilight’s right hand and fixed itself on her ring finger. A dark voice spoke inside the dead alicorn.

”Twilight Sparkle of Equis… RISE!”