The Everfree Chronicles: Altered Chances

Whitetail Graveyard, Midnight

I open my eyes up to a strange sight. The sight of a gryphon rolling on the floor laughing like a hyena to the point of holding his ribs as if they were going to burst and a grey mare pouting as she was sitting on the dirt and grass floor with her forelegs crossed, not liking being covered in dirt and having to scrap her way out of a coffin than having to dig out of the ground to freedom. The gryphon on the otherhoof was enjoying the fact that we three have basically busted a bunch of zombies rising from the grave to feast on brains of the living.

"Erm...guys, we might need to get going now before anypony finds us out of our graves and acting normal, and remember stick to the plan that if we see a pony walking just act like zombies and partially follow them, but as soon as we lose sight of them go straight towards the castle." I said trying to get my bearings, not entirely liking the fact that I was basically in a comatose state for a whole day and a half and was basically helpless to everything that happened, watching my parents weep over me, getting dressed up by some pony named Rosie Luck, than finally trying my hardest not to sweat up a storm inside of that coffin until after everypony left the graveyard...not the best way to escape but still worked.

I give a quick look over at the two until my eyes fell on the ocean blue pegasus that backed into a bush and was thrashing about appearently stuck. the gryhpon still laughing as I trot past him and flick him upside the head with my tail, not amused that he is laughing at a friend. "Sapphire Bloom so good to see you again. Now as you can see we cheated death so now, let us go home before anypony shows up." I said, basically marching up to her and giving her a quick hug before looking at her bandages, "Seems like your injuries have been addressed and that you are getting better, well just stay off your wings for atleast a week and you will be good as new. And as for our second chance at life...I have a plan for us that will not fail so everypony follow me, you too gryphon before I drag you over here" my voice stern and steel as Sapphire looked at me with a small smile now knowing that us three are not zombies but instead that we are very much alive and if found out, three escapee's.

"Come now...we must cover our tracks...we must first make it look like we have rose from the dead...we got to leave drag marks from our coffins to the woods to make it look like we left in that direction that way they will try to follow the trail, and we will be free once we have fooled them...I am going to need some of your feathers Greaves and Beatrix I am going to need you to get a bit dirty by dragging one of your hooves from the coffin to here. I will do the same." as I spoke we all quickly started our plan to evade any early detection of what really happened.

While we all got to our task of making it look like a zombie outbreak has started I looked over at Greaves to notice that he was busy ogling at Sapphire the entire time, not even once did his head turn to not look at her and it started to make me think that he has the case of 'Love at first sight'...might have to break that up real fast if it gets out of hoof.

"Hay...Greaves, stop ogling at Sapphire and make that open casket look like it was bashed outwards, I have to partial tear mine open to make it appear it was clawed out not blown out by magic...I just hope it works."

"Ya know Nightshade...tis ain't nice to tell me to stop ogling at her...cause I will make her mine, just got to get her a nice gift, maybe some flowers...or maybe a necklace that matchs her looks, what do you think?" he was completely oblivious to the fact that Sapphire Bloom was backing away from us and was trying not to look in our general direction...way to go jerk you just ruined my chance on getting to know her...

Sighing in defeat and from annoyance I resume my task by cracking the wooden planks of my coffin and covered the inside with dirt and gravel, left a part of my outfit inside on a piece of lumber to simulate that I got caught on it, left fresh hoof marks to the woods than for added measure of faking a zombie has risen, I dragged my hoof for almost a mile in the direction of Ponyville than came back to the rest of the group which did the same thing except in random directions. Greaves came back last since he flew back with a small bundle of roses...exactly what I told him not to do, stupid featherbrain, Beatrix on the other hoof looked jealous that she was not getting any of the attention which I helped her by giving her a quick hug than to avoid a hoof to the face I lept away from her reach.

"Come on everypony and gryphon, we got to be going now as we only have two hours before the sun rises and I rather be back in the safety of my home than be out in the open when the groundskeeper see's the mess we have made for him and everypony in Equestria, so move your flanks and get moving!" I shouted getting everyones attention than finally we all moved into the forest at a brisk pace, Sapphire Bloom was on Greave's back, Beatrix was on mine and the sounds of timber wolves and owls filled the pre-dawn air, keeping up with our current pace was slightly problematic since carrying a passenger meant extra weight and since both of our passengers were weakened by a spell and the another was weakened by intense beatings and injuries.

After a good while of troting, galloping and slow shuffles we finally arrive at the wooden bridge that leads to the castle, but after listening to Greaves complaining about how his legs hurt and that he needs to take a quick rest so we all stop ontop the hill where the repaired half of the bridge begins.

"So Nightshade...where the hell are we going? We are like in the middle of bum-fuck no where, like seriously where are we going, and you better not be leading us into a trap just so we can get captured again, cause if I do end up captured again imma kill you so bad that you wished I never killed you so bad." he said very annoyed while Beatrix also looked at me with the stare that quite literally said 'Tell me where we are going or I will toss you off the cliff side head first'.

I sighed deeply knowing that they might rather take their chances with the royal guard than deal with what I had in mind. "Well...we are going to the old castle of the royal sisters, and since that was where me and Nightmare Moon basically stayed for ten years before we were defeated, that place is most likely uninhabited but their might be a few manticores lying about. So just stay calm and don't do anything stupid." I slightly growled back not enjoying the berrating those two are giving me over where we are going, hell if it was my choice I would have stayed within the coffin for another day before the spell wore off but no they wanted out as soon as they had the chane to escape.

"And also, I have already set up your rooms so do not worry about all of you bunking with each other, so get to your rooms and rest until the morning is over, once the night rises again I will tell you what our next step is...our next step will be vital if we can do it when we are well rested and not falling asleep as we speak....damn it Greaves wake up!" looking over at Greaves he has fallen asleep in the middle of my small speech, the look of pure boredom was written all over his face, earning a few laughs from everypony but me, which he only earned a rough shove and was awoken from his nap. "Done sleeping?" he slightly growls at me, "Well good cause we are moving out again, get up and follow me."

After another hour of grueling shuffling towards the castle Greaves finally keeled over and decieded to take a short nap in the middle of the path with an injured passenger on his back, not the best of soft landings. I turn my head to look at the two and roll my eyes, not liking the fact that we are being slowed down but also because we just barely crossed the old rope bridge when he decieded to sleep at late noon. "Oh for Full Moon sakes...get your lazy ass up, and keep marching towards that castle unless you actually want to get caught by the royal guard because I know they will be searching this forest high and low just to find us. So get up, and keep marching." my small speech that was meant to encourage everypony instead was more of a command to them since Greaves kept falling asleep when we needed to be moving before any signs of the royal guard show up. Once again moving with a seriously pissed off sleep deprived gryphon, an injured pegasus, a slightly tired and pouty unicorn and myself who is currently on the edge of having a very painfull and mind-numbing headache from all of this crap that they are giving me.

Only one thought was in my head when we got to the castle.

"This is going to be one hell of a long ass night...*sigh* been only a week and I already feel like my heart has been torn from my chest by molten tongs.....damn you to Tartarus Celestia....damn you...."

Everfree Castle, Pre-Dawn

"Well...for a pony that lived with the Mare in the Moon...you sure as hell know how to live in style, that much I can say for sure. Just look at this nice crimson carpets and maroon tapistries! And look at those mirrors! So clear and shiny, I can see my reflection perfectly in it! And look over there..." Greaves was having a hay-day with the castle decorations that was currently in place when I was cleaning and fixing it up before the mares destroyed my love with a bunch of stupid ancient trinkets.

"Yes I know this place is awesome and yes thank you for telling me that this is all beautiful but first let me show you three to your rooms, and do not think about changing rooms because I already implanted the names of you three into the rooms that you are going to be staying in. Also each of your rooms are next to each other so please keep it down unless you want one of your neighbors to try and stuff your mouth with a pillow while you sleep right?" I said while trotting backwards towards their rooms, Sapphire and Beatrix were following me closely while Greaves was basically going to every single decoration and piece of art he could lay his eyes on. I swear he is some sort of uptight royal snob when he wanted to act like one.

After turning another corner and saying hello to the ghost guard as he floated on by past us, which he earned a few stares from my three friends, its not everyday that you see a ghost float by and say hello to. Looking back at my friends I noticed that the two mares are staring at each other, seemingly giving each other nasty glares and are practiclly clinging close to me as one of them snorts at the other...I smell a cat fight coming shortly...

"Wow our rooms! Finally I can get some rest before we do anything, in fact I am going to my bed right damn now, wake me up in like...eight to ten horus from now. See ya later in the morning!" as soon as he closed his beak he leaps onto his bed covers himself with a thick sheet and near instantiously falls asleep.

"Well I'll be damned...that feather brain was really tired. Well its best if you two also get some sleep, for in the morning we are going grave robbing." I said with a deep evil grin on my face, my eyes slowly turning to an inky black as the darkness slowly creeping towards me before my eyes go back to its normal teal color.

"Just get some rest, Beatrix your room is on the left of Greaves, Sapphire your room is next to mine on the left." as we went our seperate ways to our respective rooms, Beatrix closing her door loudly only to get a nice yell from Greaves. "DAMN IT! SHUT THE FUCK UP OUT THERE! I AM TRYING TO SLEEP!"

Going to my room I can tell that Sapphire was still next to me, easily passing her room as she followed me into mine. Not entirely sure why she was still following me but if I am guessing most likely afraid that Greaves might try something if she tries to sleep alone. "Let me guess..." I said as I turned around taking off my suit, folding it neatly and placing it within a dresser, than going to the bed before turning to face her, "You can't sleep because Greaves was ogling at you and you think he might go after you, am I not correct?" I said with a smug grin, knowing a ponies body reaction was one of the first things that Nightmare Moon taught me when she was giving me an education since mine was cut short.

"Yes...that...and I don't know how to repay you for saving me back in Canterlot...so...if I can just sleep with you for tonight...if..if you don't mind that is." my lord that face...those soul-crushing eyes of pure sadness....

"You can stay for the night in my room...you get the left side of the bed, I got the right side." I said in defeat, one does not simply say no to a cute mare that is giving the face that can easily crush the souls of the weak. After she walks in and just plops down on the bed I closed the door silently before going to my half of the bed before covering her with a blanket and kissing her on the forehead, a small smile I can see spread across her face before I hurdle over to my half and closing my eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Above the doorframe to my room reads a dark purple placard, etched in it was quicksilver letters that spell out "Nightmare Moon's and Nightshade's Private Chambers" the words slightly dusty and covered in cobwebs except for the first half of the placard, my half is overly dusty.

Do not give up hope yet Young Mage...

Whitetail Graveyard, Early Morning

The sun was shining bright and early as the birds were chirping in the dawns early light, an old pony with a tombstone for a cutie mark was happily humming to himself as he made his way from his small cottage outside of Ponyville towards Whitetail Graveyard, having to keep it nice and tidy for the ponyfolk that visit the resting place of their deceased loved ones. As he made his way towards the graveyard the sounds of birds chirping was abruptly silenced as the air around the area slowly grows cold and thick, a deep fog slowly rolling down the dirt road and into the surrounding forest. Moving at faster pace he trotted towards the graveyard only to have the smell of rotting meat and decay hit him at full force, looking for the source his eyes stopped when he say the eight recent tombstones slanted at different angles but the one that that forces his eyes to open wide with fear is that all of the graves have been forced open by the deceased occupants.

"Oh sweet Celestia! What kind if dark twisted magic is at work here? The dead has risen from the beyond the grave!" was all he could say before he felt a rugged tap his shoulder forcefully. As he turned around he came face to face with his worst nightmare. He only had a few seconds to scream out for help before the face of a gryphon came down and bit him in the neck, tearing out a chunk of meat and flesh before he galloped off fearing for his life, only turning around only to see eight shuffling bodies slowly following him back to Ponyville.

In the distance after he ran off, the tall tell signs of chaotic laughter can be heard, the sounds of eight ponies laughing their asses off as their plan to scare the poor fool into believing that the dead have came back to haunt the living.

Everfree Castle, Morning

"Oh my sweet full moon did you see the look on his face! That was freaking priceless! Hahahahahaha my god my ribs are killing me!" I said while laughing my ass off back at the castle, and I was laughing all the way back along with the seven others that played their role in acting as zombies, and each of them played that role to a T.

"Dude did you see that face of his? I swear he shit himself when he saw the eight of us slowly limping after him ha ha ha ha, this was the best prank I have ever done to anypony ever since I tricked my headmaster to let me go out to get a bucket of cold water! OH this shit was funny!" said one of the slightly headless twins, appearently bringing them back from the dead was almost a total success as we can occasionally see their necks open and the smell of rotting meat was starting to get to some of us.

"Prism and Pylon, please remind me to complete the resurrection spell on you two and the other three before we go on with the rest of my plan, I honestly do not want to deal with the smell of decaying pony flesh in my castle and I really do not want you five making this place smell like its a corpse factory...which it will soon be for which this place will soon hold the bodies of my dark mistress's enemies.." I said scrunching my nose, the smell is Tartarus damned awful, just even thinking about it almost makes me want to gag and puke off the side of the castle bridge.

"Ya ya ya I'll remind you later, but for now just let me and the others get used to being alive again, having ones head chopped off than half-assly put back together than being brought back from the dead is a really bad deal...except when the one doing the resurrecting has a hot piece of flank...if you know what I mean." Prism said with a wink before flying off...not sure if he was trying to flirt with me or was talking about Beatrix...I just don't swing that way for him...kinda creepy now that I think about it...also not into corpses...maybe his sister...as long as she is fully alive and not trying to throw rocks at me all the time...eh maybe some other time. Right now I have a revolt to plot and dark magic to practice.

And I just know who to teach me about such cursed arcane arts...but first I need to pay a visit to the Canterlot Gardens...and pay tribute to a statue...