We wait in hiding, we lie in wait.
We are so many yet so few...
The work is started and never done,
Yet there's no yearning for the calm.
-Vader – We Wait
Knowledge not information grants transformative power.
There are as many left hand paths as their are us-stars.
The extension of existence to a further level of being.
By powers of the Set that releases from the thrall.
-Vader – Xeper
Ground is trembling, severe stench engulfs,
Fear possesses the weak being you are...
With convulsive tremble of darkness,
our legions move, we are the horde...
We are the horde!
Brutality unseen before.
Feeble human, on your knees to die!!!
We are the horde!
We bring the suffer.
We are the horde.
Yes, we are!
-Vader – We Are The Horde
“Apple Bloom! Apple Bloom! Where is that silly filly...?” A mare with a rancher's hat, blonde mane and orange colored body looked about. She bore a worried set of emerald eyes, searching about for the filly in question.
It was dark out, and dangerous to be outside at this time. Equestria was soon to be at war with nations beyond the seas in all four directions. Monsters have been rising from cursed earth, such as the EverFree Forest. Apple Jack walked along side this forest, cold winds and stenches fouler than any pig-pen kept her weary, but her younger sister was no where to be seen and she was not going home without her.
She could vaguely hear the monsters that already walked in the forest at night before this sudden change in the world stir. Manticores and Timberwolves would growl or howl in the distance every now and then as she treaded quietly along the outskirts.
So many legends surrounded the everlasting mystery of the forest itself, legends and myths older than the dual rulers' legacy itself. Tales of zombified ponies haunting the lands once every hundred and one years, claiming any foolish enough to walk the forest floors in the dead of the night as their own to feast upon and enlist to their unknown ranks.
Then there was Ponylore of hidden villages seemingly a paradise, where no problems were had and all the ponies lived in total harmony, much like Ponyville has for the last millennium before this change. And His arrival.
Apple Jack felt uneasy about this all, war was coming and the princess had summoned some odd looking creature to help her fight it back. He commanded some thousands more like him, all willing to go to war for Equestria, and their rewards were unknown. The only ponies that know He is here in this world is herself, her five other friends, Apple Bloom, the royal house, and the Secret Order commanded by a suspiciously familiar blue unicorn. They were all sworn to secrecy of his presence at the request of the two princesses by his own condition, He didn't want the world to know He was here.
He kept his army hidden from the country as best as he could, concealing them in the Badlands to the West of Canterlot, the lands the Ancient Order called “Western Ra”. Nopony lived out there in those scorched lands, riddled with deserts and molten landscapes. The sand was blacker than Luna's night skies, and it is said hideous devils banished to Tartarus would escape the Place of Sin and reside in those black expanses. No pony goes anywhere near that sector of Equestria's border, so she had to hand it to Him for being smart about where to put that big black army of his, but it put his forces at risk of attack from demonic beings. The only flaw of that plan, but one he had to accept.
Apple Bloom took a liking to Him when he first showed up, it made Apple Jack worry. That filly got it in her stubborn head that she could get a cutie mark by joining the royal army of Canterlot, it didn't help when He came by with his army on his way to that secluded part of the country. Apple Bloom tried to run off with him, but He dragged her back to Sweet Apple Acres.
Apple Jack feared her younger sibling had run off to chase her dreams of achieving a cutie mark, no matter what it was, before her time. She was so impatient about getting her own, it sometimes infuriated her and her older brother.
A distant moan that could only be described as demonic or otherworldly echoed beyond her sight into the deep shadows of the cursed wood. Apple Jack's hooves began to tremble in fear for her sister...what could of happened? She hoped to Celestia she had not gone into the forest.
'Gosh, ah wish Link was here to help me with that filly...'
“Go back to your sheets, and be safe where your older sister sleeps...”
“Zecora? What in the hay is wrong with your voice?”
“Leave this place, for a second chance will not be yours to take.” A strange zebra warned in a dark tone, almost whispering the words. Her back was facing the filly, who stood there with a worried look on her face. The filly stepped closer, fearful for her friend. She reached out with one hoof and turned Zecora's head towards her.
Apple Bloom screamed at Zecora's eyes. They were black, with only a red dot to show where she was looking. The blackness of her orbs seemed to ooze out onto the zebra's face, adding to the horrifying image. Zecora's expression remained blank, and her voice continued to sound like it was caught within space time itself, giving off an echo of some kind.
Apple Bloom took a step back, quivering in fear. But a sudden surge of determination silenced her dying desire to take a shortcut through the wood. She had waited for too long to get her cutie mark, and her wish to be the first to set an example for her fellow crusaders gave her strength to steady her heart beat.
“I don't know what's goin' on here, Zecora, or if this is some kinda joke y'all are tryin' to play on me, but ah ain't goin' back!”
Zecora's blank stare did not change, nor did the zebra move. Feeling uneasy again, Apple Bloom gulped in an attempt to swallow her growing fear.
“S-say...does the f-forest really have a s-shortcut to that d-desert place, 'W-Western Ra'?”
The more Zecora stayed quiet, the more Apple Bloom's resolve subsided. Finally, the corrupted zebra nodded slowly.
“Beware, little mare...The spirits of the forest haunt tonight wielding iron might. With lusts to taste...Anyponies face.”
With her question answered, and that chilling warning, Apple Bloom started to trot around her friend who merely stared blankly at her as she approached the forest. Apple Bloom stopped before she put one hoof in, analyzing the warped trees and the dark, ominous design of the wood itself and how it seemed to barricade itself in endless pine and vine. A cold breeze repositioned the limbs of the trees, the whole forest in her sight moved under the force. Leaves bellowed about in the invisible waves, guiding her towards the road to which she desired to walk, almost as if the shadow of the forest itself beckoned her in.
With great hesitance, she stepped in. As she walked the path through the woodland, the outskirts disappeared from behind her as great oaks and dozens of poisoned vine appeared silently behind her. She had been sealed within the woods, there was no going back. Zecora continued to stare at the forest, on the outside, nothing had changed. Only Apple Bloom disappeared from her sight.
Fire lashed about wildly in the black desert, thousands of tents were situated around one larger than the others. Next to the enormous camp was a stone statue of an Alicorn bearing close resemblance to Celestia herself, it stood a few hundred feet tall, enough to dwarf a full-sized cathedral. The stone was old, very weathered and half buried beneath the dark sand. Another one stood in front of this one, bearing close resemblance to Nightmare Moon, it was just as old and sodded as the statue of Celestia. On the base where the sand did not cover, the story of the battle that took place an entire millennium ago was inscribed.
Soldiers marched to and fro on routes, obviously patrol squads. Torches were lit along side a ten foot wall to keep intruders out, archers stood at attention as their emerald eyes watched the horizons for any sign of movement. A large gate made of some wood the soldiers drug from afar allowed for entry and exit of the camp, but was guarded heavily by knights.
One large pole stood next to the larger tent, high atop the steel pipe was a great flag, black as the night with a golden triangle symbol stitched in the middle. It resembled three triangles put together to make a larger one, it was torn and had many holes in it, showing proof that it was a battle standard.
The hot desert wind played with the flag, licking it from side to side and smacking it against the rope that bound it to the pole. Below, in the large tent with knights guarding the entrance, a tall man dressed in the same black armor as his soldiers but with a long black hat that resembled a tail hanging off his head sat at a simple table, littered with dusty old books that seemed aged as much as the statues outside. The man read as many words from as many pages as he could, fascinated by the writings of their ancient world.
His menacingly ghostly white eyes scanned the images and texts, hungrily taking in the ancient knowledge. He read of the oldest tales long forgotten to these pages, all of which were sealed in the temple he and his men had investigated some days ago. This was their bounty, well, part of it. More important things had been found, but to the king, knowledge was more valuable than any other item.
He remained silent, listening to the steady and ominous march of his troops and the cackling of the fire lands ever aflame to the west of his camp. It was uncomfortably warm, driving him to remove his chest plate and upper tunic.
Times such as this made him wish he was as numb as his troops were, their nerves were totally dead. It's what made them the perfect fighting force, their formidable resistance to pain and total loyalty to his will.
His sweat dripped on the table as he flipped to another page.
'The Legend of the Bloody Hooves...'
“Bloody Hooves, Bloody Hooves; bear you ill, trapping all who walk their grill. Creatures of the forest rising to admonish, to dethrone the undead that stalk those who fear. Living wonders that must be plundered, fall to sin of the greedy grins, for the Bloody Hooves shall eat living meat to sate unquenchable means...”
The paragraph was most intriguing, and the picture of a pony being ripped limb from limb by two shadows with hungry evil eyes.
“Victims of this death will rise with a new breath. Snatch and sneer all that revere the fallen, to corrupt and mutate to a new being.”
A gust of wind and a low moan suddenly attacked the tent with a fury not seen in the natural world. The knights patrolling the site became alert to the evil winds, the king's tent shook from the force of it. As the men became alert, the king ignored the phenomenon whirling about him. But as quickly as it came, it vanished.
A female soldier, dressed in heavy armor bearing the symbol rank of General stepped into the tent. Her hair was golden, kept in a pony tail much like her sisters in the class, but a long tattoo of a dragon starting above her right eyebrow and disappearing below her neck stood out. Her armor, very similar to the standard which resembled the king's had a slicker shape and her shoulder blades bore the form of black fire. Her sword with ruby embeddings, resting on her left shoulder much like her brothers and sisters would, glinted in the torch-light. The king did not notice her, he continued to read out loud.
“Manifested through the blood of the damned, the Bloody Hooves rise to the one hundredth first year of Moon Mare's Judgment. No root of eternal curse to sever, unholy ground the force behind their waver. Unveiled by the rise of Evil from yore, revelation of the coming End of the world. Bound by holy seraphs, gods of old, yield no mercy for flanks marked triumphantly of gold. Sick heterosis, taste unfortunate flesh to sustain history in blood...”
The general had been listening to the king's readings, waiting patiently for his acknowledgment of her presence. He raised a hand to her, giving her the signal.
“My lord, the healers have sensed a great evil presence emanating from your tent, this has been confirmed by the unholy gust just moments ago.”
“Hmph.”
“Additionally, I've come to inquire about new orders.”
“Change the troop shift, refresh the line, and send a patrol towards the east and make sure none of the ponies are getting too curious.”
“What of that green, lime colored pony, Ms. Lyra Heartstrings, who seemed so fascinated by our anatomy?”
The king stopped reading for a moment, looking up at his tent wall in a disturbed fashion. He slowly turned his head towards his general, a serious stare meeting her own cold military glare. It was still a shock that one pony had somehow tracked his entire army beyond the boundaries of the Pony Kingdom. If they hadn't captured her, she could have been killed by something lurking in the hot sands, if the desert didn't end her first.
“Keep a tight watch on her, and do not let the guards leave her alone. Make sure the brig she is locked in is tight and the keys kept on your person at all times!” He commanded with sharp pointing gestures of his index finger.
“Yes, sire.”
As the king went back to reading, the general remained. She hesitated, standing still and shifting uncomfortably. The king glanced up at her briefly before returning his silver gaze to the book.
“What is it, Valkyrie.”
“...Sire, if I may be so bold, should not we be marching a legion of troops towards Forbidden Peek?”
The king grunted in thought.
“Not quite yet. I'm in the middle of a search for something important.”
“Exactly what is it you seek in these old books, sire?”
“Knowledge, of this so called 'Ancient Tribe of Saporia'.”
“And you believe this 'ancient tribe' is the source of the Equestrian's problems and the cause of disharmony in this world?”
“Yes. All of the legends that speak of monsters and the deepest evils of Tartarus revolve around the influence of the Saporians. Take this legend for example; the Bloody Hooves.” The general stepped closer and looked into the book, reading some of the legend and analyzing the pictures as she listened to her king.
“They were created by a banished family that drowned in the deepest gorge of blood, the family desired nothing more than bringing horrors to reality and eclipsing this world in a drape of shadow. Their pure malice and destructive hate gave them the will to return from death and set events into motion that could not be stopped once started. Eventually, their power had consumed the entire tribe, turning the race into an armada of necromancers and sorcerers that used their power to bestow curses across the lands and raise the most unspeakable of terrors. All for the sake of bringing Hell into this world of Life.”
“They obviously failed.” The general noted. The king nodded, opening another book and flipping to a page lying somewhere in the middle of the many pages.
“It says here that the tribe was defeated by the uprising of the other races, namely the Pony Kingdoms wiped out the tribe's hordes and sent the odd creatures they became through their foul craft into the deep cores of the world. Sealed by the very power they held. Celestia's oldest ancestors led the revolt against the Saporian Hordes.”
“...The Saporians seem...human.” Her noting was confirmed by pictures of twisted humanoids leading an army of demons just about to clash with the pony infantry in the book.
“They are humans. The only human race that existed in this realm. Much like the nature of Humans, they were gifted power and misused it. Now they are rising again, and all the horrors their will has touched is answering their unholy call. Equestria did not know evil until the corruption of the Saporian Tribes began to spread like wildfire.”
“Does the princess know about these old legends?”
“Likely not, otherwise she would have been less eager to enlist us. Either she doesn't know, or she prefers not to remember. That might explain Ms. Heartstring's knowledge of our kind. ... Bring her to my chambers, I wish to ask her a few questions.”
Placing her right hand over her heart, and her left behind her back, she bowed. With a whirl of her decorative ranking cape, and a graceful whirl on her armored heel, she left pushing through the heavy drapes keeping the sand storms from drowning the inside of the tent in dust. Link looked up, his Triforce mark was glowing brightly, reacting to his senses. He knew he was meddling in things most dangerous to meddle in, but he needed to know what he was up against.
The king read along the lines, searching for anything he needed to know should the cause of this whole war be the Saporians. He squinted at the words, there was not much to read about, but what little he gathered made the Saporians seem to be the root of all evil lying dormant in the crust of this world.
“Blackest will, darkest hearts. No souls to burn, nor spirits to charm. Marinate in Forbidden Arts, written in bloody ink...The Ancient Evil awakens, that which wishes to sing.”
From nowhere, a horrendous force struck the king's cranium, taking him by surprise and sending him aflight and through his tent. He landed outside, his head colliding with the pole and knocking him unconscious. Wooden crates and supply boxes fell on top of his lifeless body as his tent was suddenly flung skyward.
It was too quiet, there wasn't a noise made at all, except those of her hooves stepping on the gravel path to the desert world. Her heart was racing, she was so close to breaking wreck and running home, the fear was overwhelming. She felt watched, marked by something unspeakable, her worst nightmares would not match the horror she felt.
Tears had stained her face, but her resolve remained as her exterior broke under the might of intimidation. The forest was pitch black, the only light coming from the moon which was surrounded in clouds, purple and sickly.
There were no howls from the Timberwolves, nor the Manticores, they had disappeared so suddenly... Something must be wrong to drive them off in such a hurry. Something truly more terrifying than they were. It took allot to drive the EverFree forest into total silence, whatever walked these woods tonight was obviously something worth being afraid of.
Apple Bloom really regretted this all, the fear she felt was growing so strong, she was almost numb and her strength seemed to drop as her steps grew more shallow. If only she had known the forest was being haunted by something worth avoiding, she would of gone home. But Zecora's cryptic rhymes confused her greatly, the only thing that made much sense was the final warning, but she was too stubborn to give up on her quest for a cutie mark.
Something told her she would regret this. Very soon.
It reeked here, something awful that turned her stomach upside down was rotting somewhere close by. That smell had been pervading since she stepped hoof into this woodland. As if the dead were following her, watching her every move as that heavy feeling of her being stalked had. She wanted to look behind her, to see if anything was there, but her fear kept her from giving in. She didn't want to see what was hiding in the trees.
The wind had picked up, lifting the dead leaves up and pushing her onward... The moon was almost overshadowed by those unnatural clouds overhead. The trees grew menacing, seemingly growing faces of their own, horrifying expressions and malformed shapes. Everywhere she looked, a tree was staring lifelessly back at her. She had become the center of attention now.
The wind began to whirl around her, wrapping its cold grasp around her small form. She shuddered, but sweat from the excess adrenaline pervaded, making her colder against the coming cool. It had dropped in temperature across the woods. Shadows seemed to move in the darkness, shapes she was not familiar with shifted back and forth, in and out of sight, just barely avoiding the little moonlight.
Apple Bloom whimpered, she wanted Apple Jack right now, her older sister knew how to reassure her and calm her fears. Or Big Mac, he could protect her against anything that wanted to hurt her.
But they weren't here, and they probably wont come.
Apple Jack lowered her head. Her search for her younger sister was all for not, not a single trace of Apple Bloom could be found. She shuffled on, barely containing her worry for the filly, praying to all holy in the world that she was safe and sound.
“Apple Jack! You must not lurk here, for tonight is the worst of Years!”
The workhorse stopped, looking around to see Zecora galloping towards her.
“Zecora! Have you seen Apple Bloom? Ah've been lookin' for that lil' filly for hours now!”
The Zebra came to halt next to the orange pony, shaking her head. She had been in a trance since nightfall, she remembered nothing of her encounter with the filly. Whatever had held her to its will had been disturbed and left her, going deeper into the woods. She felt horrible since she woke, her insides were moving while she had been possessed. Her first action was vomiting her supper into the bushes before the realization of what had happened struck home.
“I have not seen the Apple you seek, but heed my words for your safety is weak: This year, a great omen has come, bringing darkest whispers upon this listener. Ancient tales from oldest times have come to life, bearing the will of evils long buried by light. Nopony must linger here, for they will become prey of terrors near...”
Apple Jack snorted in anger.
“I don' care what's out there, Zecora. I ain't leavin' without Apple Bloom! If y'all know anything about that filly, y'all best be tellin' me.”
“I have not seen the filly you seek since Tuesday of last week. If she has entered the forest, her fate may be most goriest.”
Apple Jack's determined face grew one of horror. She tried to gallop around Zecora, but the zebra held her back with both hooves.
“I can't jus' leave her in there! Let me go, Zecora!”
“No! You must not disturb these woods, you life will be lost if you would! I will search for Apple Bloom, but you must pray that she is not doomed...”
With that, Zecora entered the forest in a full gallop, Apple Jack was about to follow her in anyway, but vines and tree limbs stretched before her and sealed the entrance off. There was no way she could enter now.
Tears of frustration fell, in fury, Apple Jack bucked at the oak that stood in her path. It barely affected it. Again, she struck the thickly bark, but to no avail.
Zecora was trapped in there. And possible Apple Bloom. There was nothing that could be done now.
*Go, Apple Jack, search Ponyville until I get back.* Zecora's voice called from no where.
Not seeing much of a choice, the distraught pony galloped off towards Ponyville in the hopes her sister was safe and sound in the confines of the town.
The whole camp was in an uproar, something invisible was attacking the troops. Soldiers swung about, trying to strike something while retaining their discipline. Nearby, the king's eyes shot open, with a growl, he lifted himself up off the sandy hill his tent stood on and looked about. He brought a hand up to his head where a nasty bump had formed.
The war cries of the soldiers caught his ears as he witnessed a horde of creatures with skin blacker than the abyss he crawled up from approached the gates. In the middle of the camp, a few battalions were fighting something his vision could not see.
It must have been a spirit summoned by the chants he read from the books. He did not know that by reading from the book would release a phenomenon so powerful. Nothing he could remember was strong enough to break through the invisible barrier his dark powers had formed around him, powers he still had not regained full control of since he was freed from his thousand year imprisonment. But he had strength enough to do what was needed.
Inhaling sharply, he arched his back as he reached down and summoned his shadow energy to enhance his senses. A roar ignited his magic as his body gave a quick jerk and tensed. His eyes grew brighter in their silver glow, and his face twisted to malice.
His vision grew shallow to the world. He looked to where that invisible force was attacking and foresaw a giant, nightmarish creature floating closely to the ground, it's head looked like a bison head, huge horns striking the sky with sharp tips, and a face more long than wide. The mouth was vertical, filed with many short, hideously malformed teeth.
'A Defunctoss. A demon spirit with the power of a necromancer...It must have escaped Tartarus, and raised a brigade of servants.'
The king drew his sword, and summoned his armor to him. His chest plate and tunic appeared in a flash, firmly locking on his chest. He dashed forward, towards the Defunctoss. Coming into range of what he had in mind, he stopped and raised his sword skyward. In the dark of night, a lightning bolt struck his black blade and a large energy ball began forming with a loud hum, growing larger and louder.
The troops held their ground, shields raised and spears laced forward towards the disturbance. They had no idea what they were fighting. At the gates, the rest of the massive army stood in a phalanx formation and waited for the demons rushing towards the gates to collide with their hardened lines. General Valkyrie raised her sword and the archers readied their bows, at a viscous chop, they unleashed fire arrows into the ranks of the undead. Hundreds fell, but hundreds more kept coming.
'They wont stop until the Defunctoss is vanquished.'
With this thought in mind, and with the Defunctoss now looking around to face the king with his men following suite, he lowered the sword and thrust it towards the demonic spirit. In his vision, the energy spell collided and sent the spirit spiraling out of control and into the high walls the troops built. The force of the collision caused the wall to give under the intense pressure of the assault.
The king stepped forward, now ahead of his troops.
“It's a Defunctoss! You know what to do! Kill it and the hordes beyond our brother's shields will loose their invincibility.”
The troops regrouped behind him with heavy marches, the king made a quick head count and concluded he had a full battalion behind him, fifty troops.
“Spear-Head Assault formation!” He called, at his command, the troops raised their shields against the now stirring Defunctoss, they positioned their spears forward at an arc. The king waved his hand across the ranks and the spears of the troops glowed an otherworldly red, as their eyes also glowed, giving them the ability to see the phenomenon.
“Aim for its joints, your weapons can now hurt it. Give me an opening and we'll make quick work of this annoyance.”
With an acknowledging roar from his troops, the king raised his sword and charged forward, followed by the thundering battalion.
She screamed as she galloped away, behind her, two shadows with hungry eyes chomped at her heels. They were inching closer since they ambushed her. The chase had been on, her life was in danger as was her soul.
No pony could hear her shrill screaming as she ran in panic. The creatures behind her, doubling in numbers and steadily picking up speed, howled their guttural voices. Death was calling into the abyss...
The moon had all but disappeared from her sight, the path was now shrouded in a veil of darkness and everywhere Apple Bloom turned, could have been her grave. One wrong hoofstep and she would never rest in peace.
“There is no escape...” the voices called from afar and near. “The fates have spoken, let this place be awoken. Kill... Bring her into our ranks, with the blood of millions filling the banks...”
More of them began appearing ahead of her, trying to cut her escape off. Surviving this would be futile for the filly, the forest had sealed her inside. The vines wrapped themselves overhead, creating a barrier so that nothing could escape.
She jumped to the side, avoiding unearthly long fangs about to rip through her ribs. Feeling something bite her hind hoof, she squealed at the sharp pain. Her vision saw the creatures begin a slow approach, savoring the kill. A fit of fury masked by her terror caused her to break wreck. She reeled up and kicked whatever held her in place, breaking free but at heavy price. Her hoof had been torn open.
The world seemed to slow as the blood flowed, mouths opened wide and firm bore teeth sickly and yearned.
“Leave me alone!!!” she heard her own voice screech at them. The one closest seemed to give a most frightful grin, before a swift move left her lifeless with its jaws wrapped around her neck. Her heart wrenching gurgles died out in the sounds of flesh being ripped and bones being snapped.
“Bring it down!!!” Link called as he stabbed his sword deep into the neck of the Defunctoss, which writhed and shook in a violent attempt to throw him off.
He soldiers rushed forward, jabbing their long spears into its chest and arms, binding it in place. It let out an inhuman moan as its red eyes flashed. The animated dead at the gates trying to push their way through the main lines began pushing ten times as hard, exerting extra pressure on the troops. General Valkyrie roared orders to her troops and called for the lines to hold firm.
The king could see the Defunctoss trying to gain aid from its servants. He pulled the sword free and hissed into the ruby jewel embedded at the base of his hilt, where it met with his blade, and the sword grew more demonic, giving off a fiery glimmer. He reared it high and brought it back down, this time, plunging the tip deep into the creature's skull.
All the ties that held it broke, the soldiers were pushed back and the phenomenon began thrashing about wildly, screeching as it compulsed with each new wave of demon-smiting radiation being released by the king's sword.
Finally, it threw the king from its back, his sword landing next to him. The damage was done. With one final roar, the Defunctoss exploded with a force so strong, the army it called had been pushed from its feet. Seeing the main threat now silenced, the king turned his head to the gates where his main force continued to struggle against the now mortal dead. The general had given the order to advance, the line moved out all the while spears and swords stabbed through rotten flesh and fragile bones.
A sudden surge of unholy scent pervaded the king's smell, he turned his head to the east. Far into the distance, the outskirts of the EverFree forest could be seen. What he smelled was not the same evil he was fighting now, this was far worse.
And from the taste it gave, it was currently consuming something from the living.
His eyes widened. The power within his sword sent him the signal, the Defunctoss was summoned to distract him while this other force did its will. The spirit in his sword made an image flash before his eyes.
“I wanna come with y'all, and learn how ta' fight! Ah think it's the best way to earn mahself a cutie mark!” The squeaky voice he remembered from before played in his mind.
“No...” He muttered.
“No. No! No!!!”
His troops began moving towards the gates to join the others in the fight against the zombified creatures, but the king stopped them. He pointed to their commander as he sheathed his sword on his back.
“You! Follow me, we attack the forest, now!”
And with that, he turned and began to push himself out through the gates. They followed him at a full charge, hacking down any dead that got in their way.
“Apple Bloom, hear me boom! Apple Bloom!” Zecora called, frantically searching for the filly in question.
The woods were disturbed, a powerful presence commanded air here, near, she could smell the scent of blood, but hear nothing but the wind of the Run. The path marked with hooves stained in blood known as Run had been freshly treaded upon. Tracks most unusual to the forest dweller followed tracks of a filly.
Oh, most unfortunate. The devils she feared had risen this year in the hopes for a good feast to last another century had found a filly lost in the woods, likely Apple Bloom, which she hoped was not true.
“One of us...”
Zecora looked about, searching for the source to that hideous voice.
“One of usss...”
More voices, repeating the line. Chills ran through the zebra as she smelled the scent of the foreign presences that drove her from her home this night. One pair of crimson eyes peered at her through a bush before many more came.
Immediately, Zecora chanted a spell and a light-filled shield encased her. She knew they had come.
“One of us...” The voice spoke once more, black and red ponies with glowing red hooves stepped forth from the shadows, revealing their unholy forms. Their leader bore his fangs, stained with crimson liquid.
“What do you want, unholy rot?”
“Aaah, the door mare...why have you left your post?”
“I do not serve you, evil fool!”
“Now now, don't be harsh, little one. Tell us, what do you seek in these dark woods?”
“Apple Bloom, whose heart you shall not consume.”
The creature chuckled deathly.
“...Too late, Zebra.”
The devil lowered its head and grabbed something with its maw. When it lifted, Zecora felt herself shake as the lifeless eyes of Apple Bloom stared back. Zecora's vision grew wary, her strength seemed to fade. An invisible force was pushing her conscious away from the evils that stood before her. The last thing she could see before her mind was lost was the head of Apple Bloom reattaching itself to its body, and then grinning evilly.
As swift as lightning, the unholy form that had once been Apple Bloom shot forward and grabbed Zecora.
The blade sliced through the vines, knocking back the sinister curses keeping intruders from entering the forest. The king's fist pushed through, ripping what he could grab aside with terrifying force and speed. More swords began cutting through, and armored hands also clawed at the borders.
Link roared a blood curdling howl, answered by his troops as he resorted to blasting through the barrier to enter. With the path now cleared, he dashed in whilst his troops split up in groups of ten in a desperate attempt to find the king's target, guard her and take the filly to safety.
Passing more living vines, and slashing through limbs with might, the king heaved breath greedily to keep his body moving. He may have been immortal, but he had his limits. Unfortunately, he was all but spent due to the long run from Western Ra to EverFree. His legs ached and cramped, but he knew he couldn't rest now.
The stench of blood infested the ground, everywhere his heated boots stomped during his mad dash, a puddle of blood was sure to be waiting.
Before long, he reached the middle of the forest, the tree's had grown dark and menacing, twisted faces greeted his sight and nightmarish auras pervaded his senses. Dark forces moved all around him, either away or following. He didn't care about them, his only purpose at the moment was finding and saving Apple Bloom...but deep down he knew he was too late.
But be damned he would if he left these woods without the heads of those who dared to wish ill of her. He would have his vengeance. If he was left lost here, he will lay waste to these cursed lands. No deity alive but the Sheikan God of Darkness and War, Oni, knew the power he held dormant, nor what he was capable of if provoked too far.
He came to a stop. The sight before him, the very thing he feared. There, on the ground, lay what was once Apple Bloom. Her body tarnished, dissected into separate pieces. Eyes lost to the wild, her life destroyed mercilessly.
His right hand abruptly clasped his temple, a sharp pain struck him. He watched as the scenery changed before him; revealing all that transpired here. He watched as the filly being chased by...some kind of...shadow, gave a fight before being consumed by several creatures of Pony anatomy. His white eyes watched in painful sorrow as his powers showed him what he wished never came to be...
The death of Apple Bloom.
Dropping to his exhausted knees, and driving his sword into the dirt, the king's breathing grew chaotic. He moaned...he grunted. He growled,
And then he roared.
“Nooo!!!”
The dead stretched on the wood
Infecting groans and tears
Promise of a dead-land
Lies that burn all hope now
"I send my pain among you all
Now feel the thorns in your souls
I meet you all in promised land
Just leave your flesh and bones"
Somewhere, nowhere.
A man became a god,
Spreading words and lines...
Washing brains of sick believers.
Mortal burden like disease
Roots in hearts with the lies
Blinded crowd with no volition
Highway to the grave
Lord of thorns
Cult of the dead
Master of illusions
A path to the dead end
Lord of thorns
Flesh, blood and pain
Lord of thorns
Your slavery and shame
-Vader – Lord of Thorns
Her breath left quickly, her legs weary from the long run. Her hat hung awkwardly to the side, her tired body giving a shiver, a sign of near total depletion. High and low, she searched Ponyville for her dear sister, to no avail. Nopony had seen Applebloom after the sun had set, there was no idea that could be given to help her quest.
The worry was thick, almost sickening to the point of tears with a flow of no end.
There was only one place left, that Applejack had not checked. Twilight Sparkle's library dorm. Making quick effort to reach the great oak living quarters, Applejack painfully pushed open the door, not having any care left to knock.
Who could blame the work horse? Her sister was missing and nopony had a clue where she was. Etiquette and manners were the least of Applejack's problems, now.
“Twilight! Twilight, wake up, ah need t' talk to ya!”
Applejack galloped up the stairway to Twilight's room, shaking the lavender mare to consciousness. With a groan, Twilight came to life, wiping her eyes with a fuzzy hoof in confusion. Sighing, she looked up with a squint, meeting the gaze of an eager and frustrated Applejack. Sitting up, and looking at the clock, she held up a hoof in gesture of silence, nodding her head to a dozing Spike who slept nearby in his basket.
“AJ? What-” She yawned, “-ugh...what's the matter?”
“It's Applebloom. Ah can't find her anywhere, and ah'm worried sick to the bones...” Applejack's voice had cracked, it was obvious to her that Applebloom was not at the library either. The only thing she could think of now was Zecora's words of a deathly and lethal evil force haunting the woods tonight, a force that would kill her if she stepped hoof inside EverFree.
Shaking her purple mane a little, and pushing her sheets to the side, Twilight stood up and quietly made her way down stairs, so as to avoid waking her number one assistant who was terribly tired from the previous day. Using her magic, Twilight proceeded to pour herself a cup of tea to help shake the effects of her sleep, taking a sip before speaking.
“Have you checked Rarity's to make sure she wasn't sleep-”
“Yes!”
Twilight stopped.
“What about the club house where Scoota-”
“Ah've been there, too...”
This was more serious than Twilight had expected it to be. She put her bowl of tea down, her eyes beginning to show worry as the more she realized the look in Applejack's own eyes were that of total terror.
“Twi, ah saw Zecora by th' EverFree forest, she warned me not to go in, said somethin' 'bout an old evil walkin' 'round in there and that it wasn't fit for travel! She said that th' critters forced her to leave th' hut!”
“You think Applebloom went into the woods?”
“Ah'm 'fraid so...nopony in Ponyville knows anythin' about her...It's worryin' me sick.”
“Has Zecora seen her?”
“No, she said she hadn't seen that lil' filly in a week, and that she was goin' into th' woods t' look around, see if she could find somethin'... Twi, ah don't know what t' do!”
Twilight shifted her gaze to the woods. An ominous storm had covered those cursed lands with sickly, purple clouds. Lightning struck about, but it seemed the storm was frozen in place over EverFree. It was so strange, the longer she looked, the more her heartbeat began to rise in pace. There was definitely something off about it...
The Timberwolves howled in the distance, sharing their sorrows with his own. But he paid them no mind, the world around him had blacked out. All he saw, was an endless blackness that covered the ground as he sat on his knees, hands on the hilt of his sword which still remained embedded in the earth, and his head hanging down; leaning against the hilt of the Master Sword in sadness.
He had not moved since he came across her corpse, such a terrible thing that could happen to such a beautiful creature of life. What, in the name of Hell, could possible be so vile as to take the life of a child such as her?
Villainous, insidious, despicable, bastardized incarnates of devilish desire...Damn them...Damn them, and whatever could of possibly have made them do this, this...utmost treason to nature!
His mind burned with fury, no pain nor light greeted him anymore amongst the bloodiness of his thoughts. His hatred bled into his soul, piercing it with red hot stakes and spears. The hurt within his chest continued to pulse new waves of utter need for vendetta. Their deaths, whoever, they may be, would not sate his lust.
He could see it now, as he raised his weeping eyes to meet the lifeless and empty sockets where her eyes once were. Blood will be shed, bodies will be maimed, souls will be burned and their families will drown within the sheer force of his vengeful tsunami of infectious torture.
This forest will be doused by the vindictive that prevails within his mind now. His burning eyes will exhort all that had a part of this tragedy, the gaze of fury will force any enemy to their knees as he decapitates their heads and impales them upon the tree branches.
Until her death is avenged, no creature within the walls of EverFree can escape his tenacious, titan-like wrath. Nor will the Earth be subjected to peace whilst he rips it apart to find his query. Even now, his rage fueled his magic, evident by the gathering aura he felt whirling around him with a grace caught between the physical and nexus worlds. As if it combined the essence of an angel, and a demon.
The bones of his jaws were locked tight against each other, his teeth bared for all to see. With renewed purpose, and new found strength, the king unclasped his cape and laid it flat on the ground. Gingerly, he began to gather all that was tarnished, what could be regained from the scene, and placed it on the black, abyssal fabric.
He heard his men shouting nearby, on the approach. Their heavy boots crushing the woodland plants beneath their weight. He didn't need to look up at them to know they had broke formation and tossed discipline to the wind in their frantic and late attempt to find Applebloom. It wasn't their fault though, she was gone when they arrived to the outskirts, all evident by the dry blood on her rustled and ripped coat of once gorgeous gold.
His fury returned full force, unable to hold himself back any longer, Link stood with the sword of Evil's bane in his hand and using all he had, horizontally slashed straight through a nearby Oak's bark. With no hold over his anger any further, he slashed some more, tearing through the wood without mercy. Again and again, he cut down the trees around him, all the while his troops had taken a step back from him in caution. They plainly saw Applebloom's body placed on his cape where it lay on the ground next to a large puddle of dry blood.
They knew. They knew there was no chance to stop whatever mindless carnage had claimed her life.
In a show of respect, they reformed their lines. Decorative and perfect in form. As one, they beat the butts of their spears on the ground with force, and smacked their shields on their chest plates. With the thundering noise of their crescendo echoing across the woods, a sad rhythm in their beat –
– No one heard the king of Darkness, Link, cry out in fury and anguish as he ceased to destroy the woods. For now. Bottling his rage with intentions of using it to fuel his revenge.
The closer they came to the forest in their thundering gallop, the more a heavy feeling of sadness came over them, this feeling of dread and horror they never experienced before.
Twilight looked over Applejack's flailing tail, trying to catch the eyes of her frantic friend. She wondered if she felt it too; this dark, ominous emotional signal that plagued her heart and mind.
The wind was cold... If one listened closely, they could hear what would sound like an unearthly lament of desolation. Morbid thoughts coursed Twilight's mind, images of shadows with glowing eyes of crimson, matched by shark-like fangs in a sickly grin, so ravaging to the soul.
She felt a shiver cross her coat.
There was definitely something wrong with EverFree, not even it in all its oddness was ever this threatening. Further proving her thoughts, she sensed a will of a sadistic scale try to push its way into her mind, change and malform her essence to serve its wishes.
Shaking her self free of this feeling that her privacy was being invaded by an unseen, and unknown force from the dark, Twilight quickened her pace so she was almost right along side Applejack, whose worry seemed to push all other thoughts from her attention.
“AJ, don't you have this...odd feeling? Like we're galloping right into danger?”
The golden workhorse passed a frantic gaze towards the lavender unicorn, blinking momentarily in thought.
"T' be honest, Twi', ah don't really care 'bout that right now... With th' way ah'm feelin, ah could buck a Hydra in t' next Tuesday."
Twilight's heart went out to her friend, Applebloom was always home in time for supper, she was never out late playing in the dark. Much less in the EverFree forest, not after the experience with the Cockatrice whilst under the care of Fluttershy.
They came to a stop, a sight before them that caught both of their weary breath in their throats. Laying in the outskirts of the woods, was Zecora. The zebra seemed to be unharmed, but she was also obviously unconscious.
The two shared a look, making quick to close the distance between them and their forest dwelling friend who had been searching for Applebloom, prior.
Twilight reached Zecora first, her eyes searching intently for any injuries. By the grace of Celestia, there was none, much to both Elemental wielding mare's relief.
“Zecora, wake up!”
Applejack tried, pushing Zecora over so she rested on her side instead of her back. The two mares shook their friend's body, eagerly trying to wake her. Twilight lowered her head to Zecora's chest, detecting a heartbeat, clear indication that she was alive and well.
But why would she not awaken...?
The woods serenaded its own lament in her honor, making Link's ears twitch as he picked up the notes the wind carried through the dark tree bark. His cape had been replaced on his form, no longer in need as his servants carried a spare sack in case the need for concealing something arose.
Never was it more fitting, to his mind.
The wind, as it carried the song of the EverFree forest's spirits to his ears, pushed his cape against his back, sealing his side and front from view. He looked like a large black wall with the head of a brooding man. The Master Sword hummed in his left hand, pulsing its holy energy and repelling the evil aura that had consumed the grounds around him, and the gathering phenomenon that threatened to force his wrath free and limitless.
Had it not been for the cold, the soldiers would of seen his body shake slightly in fury, rather than his lack of warmth.
'Pain...All I feel – is pain...'
He raised the Master Sword's flat to his face, the emblem of the dragon and wolf staring back at him with its fierce eyes. Closing his eyes, he prayed there was hope for her sake. For Applejack's sake, if she knew the fate of her sister, Link doubted she could continue to live with the color she carried.
'Please...Help us...'
As if to answer him in its own way, the Master Sword's glow grew more bright, shining with its blue energy and shunning the surrounding darkness threatening to cover the king and his troops who waited in silence for an absolution of their avenger.
Shining a path before him, the sight of Canterlot castle in the far distance. Link opened his eyes, taking notice of his loyal blade's guiding light. So long it has been since the sword answered his call. Looking beyond the jewel and the emblem of his sword, he spotted the great white castle. Narrowing his eyes to thin slits, a look of death in his eyes, he took the first step.
Sheathing their swords, his troops silently followed their king. No questions were asked of their destination, no complaining was heard. Though they had no emotions of fear, pain or anger... The lord of Darkness' determination was mutual. Their blades hungered for revenge, as did they.
However, a nagging feeling that the woods has been corrupted more so than before by the very presence that killed this night, pestered the dark lord. It slowly overthrew his mind, this need to unleash a pulse of the Master Sword's purifying energy into the soil to break this presence's hold on EverFree, flooded his instincts.
Taking a look at the bag strapped to his shoulder, beneath his right arm, Link placed the tip of the Sword on the ground. Placing his right hand briefly on the spot where Applebloom's head rested in the sack, Link raised his sword high, the tip pointing directly down. The mark on his left hand appeared, growing brighter as it influenced the Master Sword and woke its power.
Bringing all his weight down on the hilt of his sword, Link stabbed the earth beneath his feet with malice unmatched. The eerie glow of his eyes as bright as his mark, watched the tendrils of the Master Sword's energy seep into the dirt like an antidote would a poisoned wound.
The scenery changed; the trees losing their faces bearing nightmarish expressions at the might of the holy sword's aura. The vile vines wrapping all around the woodlands retreated into the depths of the tree roots, disappearing from sight. The sickly clouds above began dispersing, melting to healthier blue shades with a hiss. The grass returned to its natural green as opposed to the charred black it bore before. And lastly, the dirt lost its gray shade and returned to a proper tone of tan.
But the wind did not change, for it was beyond the king's influential reach. So long as the curse of the presence remained within the wind, he was powerless to touch it. Lowering his head in a show of surrender, the king removed the Master Sword from the earth, wiping it clean and placing it back in the sheath beneath his cape.
Returning his eyes to Canterlot Castle, the group continued on their journey through the forest with their goal to seek the guidance of a friend. For as long as their was breath in their lungs, they would not rest until the dark and ominous bells of Hell welcomed the soul of Applebloom's killer.
