Another day, another pile of paper work. Luna had no idea how Celestia always managed to get this much done within the daytime hours, let alone the whole day. 6 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon, that was her schedule, and she SOMEHOW always got it done! Luna was only halfway through the pile when she noticed it was almost 4 in the morning. She banged her head on the desk, causing the pile to jump and her inkwell to cause a light splash. Her quill dropped on the desk as her magic faltered and she tried to suppress a yawn. She shut her eyes, gave a deep sigh, opened her eyes again. A little trick from her Uncle Starswirl, whom she hadn't seen in what felt like eons. Maybe the old goat died chasing after tails again? She giggled at the thought, he could never keep away from the 'pretty young mares' that always walked by. With a small flame of confidence, she pressed on with the paperwork. Ten sheet later she looked up at the clock.

5:35 A.M. *SLAM*

"Oh... Celly, how do you make this look so easy?" Luna lamented. A giggle was the only thing she got in response. She turned red as a tomato as Celestia, the ever-so benevolent mare she was, continued to laugh and giggle.

"I only get that all done within a few hours because I already know what they all want. And unless it had to with an actual law appeal and/or law insertion, the answer will always be 'No'." She explained with a big smile and gave her younger sister a hug. "I'll take care of the rest baby sister. Just lower the Moon, and I'll raise the Sun."

Luna grumbled something. "I'm sorry say again, dear sister?"

"Can't you lower the Moon? I don't want to do anything right now..." Luna said through her pillow. This made Celestia laugh again. It's been 8 years since she was freed of the Nightmare with the help of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Since then her and friends had gotten into some amazing quests and journeys. Defeating Discord and making him an ally, ruining Chrysalis' plans twice in a row, befriending a former dictator, and having said former dictator make even the princesses learn a lesson in friendship. Stopping Sombra and restoring the Crystal Heart... Finding the Elements, and giving back her little sister. She dabbed her eyes with a nearby tissue, she will always remember that day, whether it's been 8 years or 800 years.

Celestia lit up her horn and grabbed the moon, gently pulling it down while gently pushing the sun into the sky. Smiling at her work, she turned to the papers before her and began reading them off. Some were to better noble life with less taxes, others, like Fancy Pants, had a petition for a new catering place for Griffins, Thestrials*, Hippogrifs, and other races too. Celestia liked the idea, and jotted down a note for herself to commend Fancy on being so kind and open hearted. She kept looking through the paper, leafing through them still finding the same things, until she hit one paper that made her stop. It was guards report, something that wasn't too uncommon to find, but this one was different. She could easily pass it off if it were Lunar or Solar guard, but this was the Dusk Guard, Twilight's domain.

Normally she wouldn't read another guards report, but since Twilight was currently not here at the moment she took the liberty to do so. What she read however, almost made her magic give out. It was a shocking report, one that spoke of casualties. Something... died? She never heard of that. She knows that there's been wars, oh Faust does she know, but to hear that something just casually killed another pony, it was practically unheard of. She read the report again to make sure.

NOTICE: FOR PRINCESS TWILIGHT'S EYES ONLY!

About a Moon ago, the Dusk Guard gets a report about a missing pony, Blossomforth. The pony in question was missing for nearly 4 days before anypony noticed, and then it took another 4 just to conduct the search party for her. Afterwords, we hear word that she was last seen in the Everfree. We asked the local zebra, Zecora, about the whereabouts of this pony, and while we at the Dusk Guard know she speaks in rhyme, we cannot help but to think what she said was quite cryptic. Unfortunately, I cannot remember exactly what she said, but I do remember that it had to do with... blood.

She made a point to not go out during the night, so she had as all, (yes all 5 of us) come inside the hut for the night. I'll be completely honest, the sounds we heard that night, they were not Manticore, or Hydra, or even Cragodile. They sounded like a voice, two of them actually, but we heard them all through the night. Lieutenant Sharp Shot went out to use the latrine... He never came back in. Someone wanted us to go after him, but no one moved. Then we heard it, a scream that felt like it pierced the heavens and came down on us. We thought we were done for until zebra lit something on fire and started waving it around out side the door, it was some sort of incense. I couldn't smell it, but that... beast, it could smell it just fine. I only caught a glimpse, but it was tall, as tall as an oak tree, and it had white, mangy fur. I think what was weird was that it had wraps around it's eyes, but that didn't seem to stop it all.

It covered its snout, in an attempt to ward off the smell, but it must of been overpowering it. The beast gave a final roar, before it slammed its claws into a nearby tree it kicking up dirt; we had to cover our eyes. When we looked back,
nothing. It had vanished completely, but we still heard it, out in the distance. Inside the package we delivered is the incense that was used, along with some of the fur that fell off the creature.

Signed,

Corporal Fireseeker

Celestia's eyebrow furrowed, if this report was meant for Twilight, why did it get sent here? And the package, what about that, where did that go? She cast a tracking spell on the note and it led her to the mare in question, Fireseeker. Now to find the package. She stood up from the chair and began to walk towards Fireseeker's quarters. Soon after reaching the door, she gave a small knock.

"Hello, Fireseeker, I would very much like to speak to you? It's about your report. ...Fireseeker? Are you ill?" Celestia asked as she gently knocked on the door. A small thump was heard inside the room, she smiled to herself thinking the mare fell out of bed. She grabbed the knob with her magic and opened it. "I know you and your men had a--!" She stopped short and gasped at the ghastly site before her. It looked like Fireseeker, only in color along though, everything else stopped as Celestia looked at the horror in front of her. Seekers horn was curled up and knotted, her back legs bent at odd angles giving an almost spider appearance. The front legs ended in sharp spike-like talons, and her face began to split into an unsettlingly demented grin. Fireseeker's body convulsed, if only for a second, before a horrible screech was belted out from her throat.

Celestia's ears folded down, and she slammed the door. She backed away from it when a red appendage burst through the door. "What in the--" Her head whipped to the side as three more high pitched screeches were heard down the halls. The door behind holding Fireseeker was slowly loosing its durability, but one of the door at the far end of the hall busted right of the hinges. Another beast came barreling out, it's head was split down one side and it was showing very sharp teeth. A clawed hand was protruding where it's tail would be, and the rest of the body just seemed to be a mash of other limbs, either way it still had enough mobility to start running after her. She almost didn't have enough time to erect a Barri-Bubble around herself before the beast crashed into it. It attempted to bite, claw and slam its way in but the bubble held.

Guards were now coming out of their rooms, seeing the beast that was attacking their Princess. They all grabbed their weapons and began forming defensive positions. Celestia wanted them to flee, because in truth she had trouble trying to keep the shield up itself. It was relentless in its attacks, and only when a guard shoved a spear into the back of it's shoulder did it stop. But it never fell. Instead it looked up from Celestia to the guard and gave another piercing howl. Now the other two doors fell off the hinges, along with Seekers door too. All four beasts soon surrounded the guards, all while leaving Celestia alone in the bubble. The two new beasts were the twins, Spearhead and Stout Shield. One was had a hulking front arm, easily dwarfing even the strongest stallion, while the other twin was entirely thin, almost looking like a thin muskrat creature. It still had sharp teeth, more than it what to with however as a few were jutting from it's mouth. The beast that was once Stout, with his giant hulking arm, seemed to have stubby little claws on it. It was clear it was made for crushing not scratching.

Celestia wanted to call out, but the guards held firm, and all four of those beasts began to circle them. Fireseeker was giving low growls, while the Twins gave small grunts and whines. The biggest one, whose name she still could not remember, still had the spear in his shoulder. His claw like tail plucked it out and crushed the wood in it's grip. It began giving out screeches of it's own. Fireseeker, the Twins, and the Rancid Beast all circled them once more before the Rancid Beast gave out a bark to attack.

The guards pulled themselves tighter and let the spears launch out from their form. One spear flew into Fireseekers chest, and she staggered for a moment before she cut the spear head off of the pole with blade like legs. One of the Twins however was not so lucky, as the Stout Beast caught a jab in the eye. It screeched loud enough, that whole palace may have awoken all at the same time. The screech continued until another jab in its throat silenced it for good. The Stout Beast gurgled and wavered, even reaching out for... something, before it seemed to turn to dust and a large red splash came forth. The Spear Beast looked almost in shock before sparks began to fly off it's body, and it turned it's murderous eyes to the guards. It's jaw unhinged itself and another piercing scream, loud enough to break the windows, rang out. Everyone, even Fireseeker and the Rancid Beast, all stared at the Spear Beast.

It was bigger now, blue bolts dancing up and down its torso and arms, it grew antlers, much like a stag, and blood was dripping from its hide. It began to shake itself, like a wet dog, throwing the blood everywhere and some of it landing on the guards and its fellow beasts. And then it spoke.

"YOU THINK US THE BEASTS?! YOU ARE ALL KILLERS, YOU'RE ALL MURDERERS IN THIS SICK TWISTED WORLD! Blood becomes one, and one becomes Blood. You all should know that you God forsaken hunters! YOU LOT ARE THE REAL KILLERS, NOT I OR THEM, OR... Or... rrrrrrRRRRRAHHHH!!!" The sparks came launching out of her mouth speeding towards the guards who braced for impact. But it never came. Celestia, long forgetting how her magic gave out some time ago saw a blue-teal wall in front of the guards while the other two beasts were being held in a similar colored bubble.

"Major Spearhead Silver Shield, you are under arrest for treason against Equestria. How do you plea?" Luna said. The Spear Beast roared in face and brought a claw up to swipe at her. Only it never got the chance, as Luna dodged out of the way grabbed a nearby sword and a spear and lodged both firmly in its neck. It wavered, if only slightly, and that was enough for Luna to ram the spear in farther, and pin the sword up in the beast's chin. It's head lazed around as flopped to stay balanced. "You have plead guilty and your judgement..." Luna began as the beast fell and dissipated the same way as the Stout Beast. "...Is death..." She turned towards the Rancid Beast and Fireseeker. With her magic, she put both of the into a comatose state and had the guards drag them into the dungeon. Luna stared at Celestia and at first, just stared. Then her lip quivered and then she gave her sister a full-blown hug while Celestia shed tears of her own.

Celestia explained how she read Fire's report and wanted to speak with her before all of this began to happen. They both agreed to start with Fireseekers room for answers and they found them. Because it was written all over the walls.

OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE OF BLOOD WE BECOME ONE

"All of it written in blood," Luna surmised, "it seems like she wrote all of it down in a hurry too. Almost as if she was running from something." Luna concluded. Celestia stared at the wall a moment longer before turning to the desk. She looked down at the note and read it over. It was incomplete, but the message was there.

"No," Celestia said giving Luna the note, "she wasn't running from something. Something already found her, it was only a matter of time before she became it." Luna read the note too and she stared at Celestia with same shocked look.

We were so stupid. It made us sick, maybe the incense? Ha! what a ~~laghtd~~ oh dear oh faust I don't wanna be like that THING I have to tell Twili-----

The rest of the note was destroyed by blood and drool, but it sang songs to them. They had to stop Twilight from opening the package. Luna cast a teleportation spell on herself and Celestia was about to follow before some of the guards that got covered in the blood began to cough uncontrollably. Celestia realized then and there. The Spear Beast had infected them with something. "Guards! Take the coughing ponies to the dungeons as quick as you can! Isolate them so they don't spread the disease any further!"

"Yes ma'am!" The guards said taking the others.

"...And when you lock them up, those that touched them lock yourselves in too..." She said turning away from them.

"Ma'am?"

"If it is going to spread like I think it is, then I hope you can trust and forgive me when I say that I don't trust any of you at the moment." She said before teleporting to the Ponyville Castle. The guards, stunned by this, hadn't realized that the coughing had stopped completely and when they did...

...It was too late.

He had it. He finally had it! Sharp Shot had been hear that voice in his head ever since they started that damn search. He had in his mouth when he ran away from his friends, but screw them! With this that voice said he could have all the power he wanted...

At least he would have, had it not been for the FUCKING COCKATRICE! His plan was perfect and the stupid chicken fucked it up! Now he was a statue the only tell-tale sign that it was him was a golden pendent hanging from his mouth. He heard stomping, coming from behind. A Hydra maybe? Or Manticore? He just wished it was something. Then he heard that awful piercing cry.

It was her.

He wanted to scream in protest, he wanted to run, but the stone held fast. He felt himself be picked up, and then felt the locket gently rip out of his mouth. Now he wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, he wanted to curse the princesses, curse faust, curse the voice!

The next thing he felt was the wind.

And then he felt nothing at all.

Author's Note

*still don't know how to spell this