Shattered Mind

Chapters

This Place Got A Little Crazy
Honey I'm Home
Your Friendship Sucks

This Place Got A Little Crazy

Sir is this really necessary?

“For fucks sake, yes it is; I ain’t going to rob some random smuck’s museum without some bloody music… Now get the songs playin… we got some robbin ta do!”

Sigh… If you say so – activating soundtrack two, song 12; playing, now.

Elsewhere in another world; in a middle of a random city; Midnight

It was the 20th anniversary of the Valenia Museum of Technology, famous scientist, celebrities, and world leaders have come to see both ancient and new technology created by the greatest minds in the world. On top a platform in the center of the museum was the work of Professor Gizmonia – the Dimensional Transporter. This device was capable of bringing the user from point A to point B… but across worlds; sadly this is a prototype as the real one is kept at the Professor’s homeland, Averia, but has been happily donated to the museum. Being one of the few but greatest creations amongst the museum, many have come to witness and see it… that is, until an incident that occurred that night.

While not open to the public yet, V.I.P guests could see the device first-hand, many scientists examining the details, and other switches that were on it. Many conversed with one another, asking questions about the device, but since the professor was busy he couldn’t come to answer said questions, so one of his assistants was sent to answer for him.

Near one of the tables set up, two scientists wearing suits stood by one of the museum’s external walls near a window the size of a five meter column. The two scientists were speaking about the credibility that the device actually can make anyone travel between worlds, as the idea of it is possible and now fact, but still impossible, the only method by finding void or realm portals, or using void crystals.

“I doubt that wackjob of a ‘scientist’ had actually made a device that can allow travel between worlds. I’ll believe until I see physical proof of it being used, successfully,” said the first scientist, taking a drink from his cup.

“Agreed; I mean, why exactly are people so awed by this thing, it’s just a prototype, as in it failed… bunch of morons, getting interested on something unsuccessful,” said the second scientist.

The two scientist watched from the side with contempt; the assistant answering questions, mentioned out loud that the device while a prototype actually worked… sadly the test subject – the professor’s apple – didn’t return, but nevertheless, a success. This meant that the device does work… but it would need a powerful energy source… or a strong aura.

As the crowd continued to converse, a quiet hum of noise could be heard – the noise sounded like music, and it came from the same wall that the two scientists were standing by – and suddenly, like the screams of a thousand abominations, the wall blew apart… along with the two scientists.

Pieces of wall and viscera was sent flying everywhere, either spraying those unlucky with the remains of the scientists, or crushing the skulls of those too slow to avoid the wall’s concrete pieces. Once the dust began to settle and everyone kept calm after the initial explosion, the noise was clearer… it was music – a banjo could be heard with dupstep sounds and a guitar playing alongside it – the song had a good beat to it and would be good to listen to some modern youth… if what happened next hadn’t happened.

“Sir, what in the deities are you do-” The security officer approaching the figure that stood within the once standing wall, obliterated the poor sod with a blast of super-heated metal from a minigun. After the silence came back, all hell went loose; everyone ran from the person causing the mayhem, and everyone knew who he was.

“Its him! Four Jinxes!”

“I thought he’s called the Green Menace?!”

“No he’s called the Moving Plague!”

“I heard they call him Green Eye!”

All of these names were true, but there was one name that shook the very bones within them, making their blood go stone cold… he was known as. “RUN BITCHES! LOCUST IS HERE!”

The psychotic man known across the world, terrorizing those in his path, being the leader of the mercenary group, Psycho Corps, and suicidal bomber – twice; the first a dud, the second not – the Psychopath, Locust!

The maniac laughed crazily with glee as he shot down, exploded and impaled anyone he could see… it didn’t help that he wasn’t aiming so most of the kills he got were by pure luck and those he actually shoot didn’t die… well… not quickly of course. After a short while the bullets, rockets, and needles seem to come forever… until three loud clicks could be heard from all three weapons.

Sir, the Avion Needle Guns, Rolka Bazooka, and Junai Minigun are out of ammunition. Refills will take at least two hours for optimal use, and five hours for full capacity.

The robotic voice that was heard by Locust – through a link to his brain, and the fact everyone else was busy screaming in fear or agony – was Locust’s robotic butler/backpack, Matthius; who is a Backpack Assistance Robot aka, a B.A.R. While the robot’s personality is the complete opposite of his master’s, it is equally devastating, and a perfect strategist whenever Locust is in a pickle… which is a lot. Sadly the weapons Locust was using was from B.A.R, and those same weapons weren’t Locust’s preferred weapons… he was using them “for fun”, as he likes to put it.

“Good, now we can get to my toys,” said Locust.

Letting go said weapons, they all slid back into Matthius four compartment, the compartment closing to show four circles with a lash through them, two on each side of the backpack. On the top of the backpack was Matthius’s head of sorts; said head wasn’t his real head, but looks like one, as Matthius head was the backpack as the whole, but Locust calls his backpack body a box-torso.

Sir may I advise we take out those armed first and not every single person you encounter.

“Where’s the fun in not killing everyone!? LET’S GET SLAUGHTERING!”

With two loud metallic clacks, Locust wielded two scimitars, both having a wooden handle that was colored a dark red, with dark gold guard. The two weapons glinted and were curved, meaning to cause as much agony against those its used upon, whether to cut them in pieces or simply slash them with their extreme weight.

Locust charged forward with ferocious and precise attacks, as nobody was spared from his ruthless rampage. Stabs, slashes, strikes, piercing blows on all his targets; arms flying, legs left cut off from their owners, torso mutilated, and their heads were used as improvised projectiles, being sent flying toward a wall to have their insides splattered everywhere to hitting others.

“I LOVE MURDER, ITS JUST LIKE LAST MONTH ALREADY!”

Um, that incident occurred last year.

“Same thing; now help me find that good stuff! Philip, go find us something to eat,” said Locust, glancing at his own shadow.

Suddenly the shadow shifted, moving through the floor and walls, until reaching a corner as it departed Locust. Facing those before him, the mad psycho went back to his massacre of innocents and occasional “heroes”.

“Now then… Who wants to get a haircut?”

Several moments of absolute slaughter and crazed laughter later…

Locust had killed a good majority of people before everyone ran off or offed themselves than rather facing him. The sound of sirens in the distance could be heard in distance, but Locust didn’t care as he sat atop a small pile of bodies, munching on his favorite food; pizza. His pet shadowling, Philip found some on one of the intake tables that weren’t overrun or destroyed in the chaos. The slice was still warm but had some blood on it… luckily the blood didn’t come from a dead body… but it is best if you don’t know where said blood originated or rather came upon said slice – it involving a rather peeved Philip.

Locust and Philip enjoyed their slices, while Matthius gathered the next part of their plan; the reason they being here was to find a certain professor’s device… or rather what was inside. Back at his base, they ran out of their primary energy source and need to refuel it… and the closest or known place to find an energy source strong enough to get their generator powering was here.

Instead of sending off one of his own, Locust got bored from doing nothing and went off to let some steam go, and grab a slice… even though he ain’t twenty on the way to the museum. Checking the museum’s parameters, the location of the device was found as Matthius informed Locust.

Target found; its located at the center of the museum. Simply take two lefts, one right, and head straight forwa-

“Excellent; the quick we get this shite down, the quicker we can get back home and enjoy mah pizza!” Without a single thought, Locust outstretched both hands toward a direction that he assumed was toward the device… which ironically was as he wasn’t sure which way was which.

A glow began to appear on both hands before a green substance covered his arms, and with one flick and pose, Locust screamed as he went full bolt to the wall he was facing. “CHHHHAAAAARRRRRGGGGAAAAAAHHHHH!”

Once making contact with said wall… all that remained was a hole with a green substance covering the edge; this continued for four more walls, even smashing through a bathroom that was ironically clean until Locust smashed into it. Slowing down, Locust turned to face the destruction he wrought and grinned.

“Perfection; now, where is that power-thingy?”

On top that platform inside that device, but I should warn you, I am getting strange activities from it.

“Bah, probably just some dimensional energies left over from the last use,” said Locust, absently with a wave of his hand.

Sir… those same energies can cause either three things to happen…

As Locust approached the platform, stepping over numerous corpses, creating an array of wet squelches and splats. He would occasionally kick away an arm in which it would land on a body or pool of blood. The center room was covered in numerous types of the various colors of red, body parts littered like sloppily prepared decorations, and there was even a mannequin made of actual dead bodies – this actual happening by lucky accident as some random bloke got impaled into a mannequin causing their insides to be shot all over said mannequin.

Firstly; it can cause an implosion of energy that can wipe all life reaching at least twelfth of this continent’s size, and considering the continent of Valenia is the size of a large island… well that is a lot of life being wiped out. This may not be a problem for you, but we need this energy source and considering Valenia could wipe out a good amount of resources – which we get from here might I add – it may not benefit us if we destroy such precious resources.

Locust continued to climb toward the platform, once reaching it, he clamored to the device and opened a random panel, searching its inner contents.

Secondly; we might accidentally summon or cause a world-ending event, and I doubt we would have the capabilities to stop it or even delay it.One of your subordinates was involved with a similar event and if he wasn’t there or even tried assisting in stopping it, we may have had a problem in our hands.

Locust began scrambling inside until he found what he was looking for; an Energy Crystal. “Found ya, come to papa!”

And finally… the least dangerous but most unlikely possibility; a dimensional vortex.

“Gesundheit,” said Locust, grabbing the crystal.

Sir, a dimensional vortex is another word for a void portal, but only difference is that this portal is unstable and allows a one-way ticket to… anywhere in the empty vastness of the Void. Such an outcome will cause numerous problems alone the fact we’d be marooned on an unknown realm… Luckily such an outcome is 0.0000000000001%, those numbers are alone are impossible.

At that very same time he said those calculations, the device began to activate as a random dimensional vortex, an implosion that would most likely destroy the museum only and an earthquake that cause mass panic across the continent started happening, all at the same time.

Unless your the living embodiment of bad luck and swim in it like it were air without nary a harmful scratch on you… Sir should I contact the others of this predicament?

“Meh, just tell the boys I’ll be on vacation… oh and that we need to look for another location for a power source.” Locust gripped the crystal, putting into Matthius backpack compartment, the robot grabbing the crystal with a metallic clawing, placing it away safely.

Locust watched as everything around him began to literally shake, get sucked into opened fissures in the ground or violently crumble around him. He simply sat and watched with amused glee, before glancing at the portal and shrugging it without a care.

“Welp, time to go see what’s on the other side… Au reviour, asswipes!” shouted Locust, jumping into the portal.

As he left, a hand came back grabbing a random slice of pizza just before the whole museum crumbled, destroying all the exhibits and making the portal vanish.

At the other side of the portal; somewhere… somewhe… I don’t know were in the middle of nowhere, just read the bloody story!

Locust found himself appearing in some kind of forest after coming out the portal; the song he had playing had ended its loop on its own, but Locust was too distracted… that and he was absentmindedly biting his slice with deliberate slowness.

“Da fuck, where am I? Matthius where are we, do we got enough pizza… Are we at Finland?” asked Locust, excitement as he asked that last question.

To answer all your questions; we’re located at some sort of unknown realm, very new from my scans but its flowing with aura… so much so that the need for element crystals are unneeded as the very air is flowing with the energies. We only have two slices, the one you’re eating and one that I kept in my storage. As for if we are at Finland… no… we are not at Finland.

“Ahhhhh shit… Welp, better get looking around… Any locals here?”

Good question… This forest is impeding my scans, but I seem to see some sort of structure just west of us, deeper into the forest.

Locust glanced at the very direction, until he saw a bright blast of yellow light, before a dark purple came afterwards. The blast of lights seemed to happen one another, and looked like some sort of battle was happening.

“Ohhhh, is someone fighting, without meeee? Time to join the fight and get this show started,” said Locust, unsheathing his swords. Locust began to march forward, humming a tune to himself.

Everfree Forest; Everfree Castle; Midnight

Celestia was weakened, tired, but most of all… she was crying, her baby sister had suddenly turned to some warped version of herself… and it was all her fault. Luna… oh Luna, I’m so sorry…

Celestia had all six of the elements, but she was afraid what they would do to her sister, if they would petrify or even seal her away both outcomes horrible and something she rather not do to her sister. The alabaster alicorn looked around the cover she was behind; she saw her, her sister who now called herself, Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare was looking around with barely held rage, blasting a piece of their home and screaming in rage for the explosion to not reveal her disheveled sister.

“COME OUT COWARD! ONCE I FIND YOU, I’LL RULE EQUESTRIA, THEN THE WORLD, AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE NIGHT SHALL LAST, FOREVER! AHHAHAHAHHAAHHAA!” shouted Nightmare Moon, doing her signature laugh.

She couldn’t bare looking at her sister like any longer, with her looking away Celestia ran off deeper into the castle unnoticed by Nightmare, due to hearing something else.

Nightmare Moon assumed the noise was her dear sister Celestia, turning to face the source of the noise ready to blast away. Without even making sure what caused the noise, she eviscerated stone and whatever made the noise… but what stood was a blackened spot… with a strange bipedal figure standing where her blast made contact.

What?! How can this… whatever it is – looks like some kind of furless minotaur – survive my attack!? Must of missed…

“Who are you, if you bow to me immediately I may spare… whatever you are and ignore you for distracting me from finding my original target,” said Nightmare Moon, taking quick glances around her.

Locust stared at the absurd sight before him; a horse with wings and a horn, and looked like some kind of clique villain… it was Friday all over again. “Who in the frosty sprinkle cock are you suppose to be!? You look like some kind of rainbow barfed you out, added a bucket of black paint, and decided to play god… while high and drunk!”

The unique lingo that Locust used confused Nightmare Moon for a second before she returned to her original snarl. “I don’t know what half you just said meant, but you dare to talk back to me! You shall pay deeply you-”

“Shut up bitch, I need to eat my pizza,” said Locust, pulling out his last slice. “Gotta keep the tank full.”

“YOU DARE INTERRUPT ME!” screamed Nightmare Moon, preparing a blast of raw magic.

Before Locust could bite his pizza, the very hand he was holding said slice was covered in dark purple raw magic; this caused Locust’s hand to smoke but not vanish… but leaving the pizza simply ash. Locust stared at what remained of his delicious food, he stared for so long his gaze seemed to break the strongest of metals.

Nightmare Moon laughed with glee at the pitiful look that Locust had; now Nightmare Moon was the most insane being in the world, with a certain spirit once being number one… but she’s about to learn that position of insanity would be taken in a flash.

“HAHAHAHAHAH! Fool, you this is what happens to those who dare to oppose my rule! Now you shall face my wrath and...”

Locust was looking back at Nightmare Moon with eyes of a true lunatic – he was snarling like a monster, both his weapons were unsheathed and he was glowing an ominous purple, and most of all… his eyes were barely dots, only showing the whites of his eye. With one final bestial roar, Locust started rushing Nightmare Moon with only blood his thirst of blood in his mind.

“KILL KILL KILL; MAUL, TEAR, CRUSH, RIP, MUTILATE! KILL KILL KILL KILL! KIIIIIILLLLAAHAHAHAAHAHAH!” screamed Locust, repeating the word kill over and over.

Nightmare Moon stared at the sight of this horrid creature snarling and glaring at her for her blood. Something in her snapped… something that was kept buried… and it was freed; a piece of Luna saw the light… and it wanted to go back and hide in the darkness. Still in her Nightmare Moon form, Luna stared eye-to-eye with death, or rather, the deepest pits of true insanity, and with that she ran away like a screaming filly.

“MOOOOMMMMIIIIEEE!”

Some other part of the castle, Celestia was panting as she ran as far she could, but she heard the shouts and screams… but they sounded like…

“Luna?” said Celestia. A fix of fear and horror was swirling in her mind; she wasn’t sure what to do – was Nightmare Moon tricking her by using Luna’s voice… or was actually her. Without much time to think, Nightmare Moon came bursting through the same doors she came through.

“She’s not Luna, she’s not Luna… She’s not Luna!” shouted Celestia. With all her might, Celestia unleashed the Elements of Harmony on Nightmare Moon, sending her to the moon as the best option, but at the price of loosing the elements powers.

As Nightmare Moon was being banished, Celestia did not notice her eyes; the same eyes of her sister… or the tears of seeing true fear itself coming from her. All that remained was wet droplets of her tears, and the disturbed dust from their battle.

Celestia stood for a long time… before slumping down, and after that… she began to weep. She lost everything, her home, the power to protect her ponies, and now her sister – her flesh and blood. The now lonely alicorn wept for as long she could, hidden tears now unleashed like a broken dam.

Her wails of agonized sorrow was heard all over the Everfree and would echo across Equestria… as she was unaware of the figure with purple eyes staring back at her.

After calming down, Locust saw the other strange horse causing the pizza murderer to vanish, and he knew she vanished as he recognizes teleportation anywhere. Since Matthius was unable to find where the other horse went, Locust doubted the other horse knew where she was, considering her current state of mind.

With his last slice gone… Locust felt somewhat sad… that was… until he came to a realization.

“I can search for pizza in this place… And it make hellavah trip! Matthius, we going on an adventure!”

Sir, what about that… whatever that think was?

“We can worry about that later, you scanned that strange thing that other horse did, you can see if there is a possibility for her to return from wherever she’s hidin?”

Hmmm… yes… yes, I can; from my calculations, the white… from my scans they’re called alicorns. This alicorn has placed a banishment of some kind… but it should last a thousand years on this very day.

“Excellent, then we just come back here, and wait when that day comes. Matthius, set my calendar – looks like we’re going to play the long game… Hehehehehhehe,” said Locust, leaving the scene.

As Locust departed, a weeping Celestia continued to cry for her now banished sister… unaware of another being that witnessed her sister’s banishment… or the role he play in the lives of her and those of Equestria… or the world.

Author's Note

Next chapter preview: One crazy origin + thousand year wait = A very bored but excited Locust

Matthius speaks through italics, but other characters italics (thoughts) will be differed by color (ex. blue for Luna/Nightmare Moon & pink for Celestia).

Bold speech; yelling, shouting, or screaming - depends on what they're saying.

Bold & italic lines are locations, & time.

Honey I'm Home

A thousand years have went by, many things have changed during those passing centuries – new frontier towns are being built, Celestia is the sole ruler of Equestria after her sister’s banishment, and peace has lasted for the last thousand years… but the day of her return is coming soon, and the night shall last for eternity.

Of course, Celestia has everything planned for the event to happen… she just didn’t expect for a particular being to make the situation… complicating.

Equestria; Canterlot Castle, Celestia’s Room; Morning – a day before the Summer Sun Celebration

Celestia busied herself, looking through different scrolls that listed requests and reports from her ponies; these requests were simple requests for support on different city projects – some useful, others not so much – while the reports have been the same for the last thousand years… but there was the occasional strange report of a disturbance, particularly in the outer cities, those far from the more controlled parts of Equestria.

This particular report reminded Celestia of a similar incident that occurred two-hundred years ago – the incident involved a hidden slavery ring deep in Baltimare’s underground system, and it was discovered when a mare who was practically beaten bumped into a private by the name of Vigil Sentry. What was worse was that a good number of the royal guard were involved, except for Vigil since he was recently transferred to the city.

After a large company of the guard were sent to raid the slavery ring, all they found was… disturbing. All those involved were dead to the point of being barely recognized, with the help of magic being used to reconstruct the bodies that weren’t obliterated or melted into a puddle of sludge. The slaves were freed and those involved who did survive were barely alive, terrified of something that attacked them… the only description was a one-eyed hairless minotaur being the culprit of the attack.

This description of one-eye reminded Celestia of similar incidents – both minor and major – throughout the years, going back to the first incident of this particular individual to 800 years ago. Each of these bloody and grotesque incidents were each labeled, but all of them were so different from one another the connection couldn’t be seen.

Celestia sighed, putting the report away that described an attack near the border of Equestria and the Minotaur Lands, just southwest was a fort made by Equestria that were attacked by a group of rogue minotaur soldiers. The incident would of gotten worse but the bandits were swiftly handled… but not by Celestia’s royal guard, but rather an unseen force that decimated the bandits, leaving bloody remains behind. A figure was spotted running into Equestria but what it was unknown, the only description was it slouched in a weird angle, and wore strange clothing.

Even though I managed to gain peace just a decade after my sister’s banishment, these small bouts of violence are barely contained… we haven’t had this bad of an incident for nearly two decades. The last time a major incident happened in Equestria was during an incident a century ago that involved a bunch of cultists kidnapping ponies; the ponies were rescued but some didn’t make it… but again, the same description of this mysterious figure popped up once more. Apparently one of the hostages had encountered a strange being, she assumed was a minotaur, but she couldn’t tell us much other than it came to rescue her.

Just as Celestia was about to check another scroll, a green smoke floated from the window to her, before it poofed into a scroll. With practiced ease, the scroll was caught in Celestia’s telepathy; reading the scroll, it detailed her student’s ramblings of the return of Nightmare Moon tomorrow. Celestia knew about this event and knew what she had to do, so with a smile, she pulled out a new parchment and pen. She began writing down her response and gave Twilight her orders; after done she rolled the parchment to a scroll and stamped the royal wax seal. With the same spell she taught Twilight for Spike to use when she needs to send a scroll or message to her, a cloud of smoke appeared that was once her scroll before it floated off outside to Twilight’s tower.

“Don’t worry Celestia, Twilight can handle this, you prepared her for this… She’s ready for every contingency,” said Celestia, telling herself this.

What could happen that I haven’t seen coming?

At the same time – Equestria; Ghastly Gorge; Morning

A lonesome figure walked through the dead quiet gorge; the gorge was quiet because the denizens it held were hiding out of terror. To the unseen eye the figure was shrouded in a cloud of malice, insanity, and pure bloodlust so strong, even the greatest of predators would turn tail.

The figure was wearing a gray fedora with a dark gray strap around it with a dirty gold buckle; its clothes were not in the best of conditions – the shirt was ragged ripped and had holes around it, the pants while okay were equally dirty with two metallic kneecaps on them – and the figure wore two sandals, showing his toes. Across his chest was a knife belt that held several knives, their uses unknown but their intent, deadly, and on his sides were two duel sword sheaves, and finally he wore an eye-patch on his right eye with the letter L, stitched on it.

Other details the figure had was he wore a metallic backpack that would occasional beep or have one of the lights on it blink out and back on. The figure smiled dementedly, before speaking to himself suddenly – this went from shouting to whispering, then back to shouting.

“SHUT IT YA WANKAY! ...I swear I’ll… Oh and screw you too!” said Locust, talking to himself.

Sir, we need to keep a low profile; I sense several creatures within these holes.

“Well they can bugga off… No, I’m not making one my pet, I got one already,” said Locust, ignoring Matthius.

The robot butler sighed, unable to catch his masters attention, but continuing to speak. Well sir, we’re approaching the destination, we should be there by nightfall or at best, evening, Locust.

Locust grinned madly; he waited for thousand years for this day… and he would taste sweet sweet vengeance… and the occasional bloodbath of course. The madman continued his walk, slowly leaving the gorge; once a far enough distance some of the gorge’s inhabitants, giant eels popped out and stared at the terrifying visage that was Locust, before retreating to await a better prey to hunt down.

Equestria; Ponyville; Afternoon

Twilight was still upset that Celestia hadn’t taken her warning to heart and decided to supervise the planning in Ponyville for the celebration. She had already met all the ponies in her list and was now in a bakery called Sugarcube Corner, enjoying some lunch with her assistant. The two were reviewing the list to make sure they haven’t missed anything important, and to see if there was anything left on the list to complete.

“Went to see Apple Family and food preparations,” said Twilight.

“Check,” said Spike. Spike scrolled down the list checking each thing that needed to be checked.

“Made sure weather was clear for the day.”

“Check.”

“Decorations at town hall are set up.”

“Check.”

“And music by Fluttershy and her birds are ready.”

“Check; that’s everything Twilight.”

Twilight sighed collapsing from all the stress today given to her; the last couple of hours being this town was getting to her, and it didn’t help that Nightmare Moon would return tonight of all nights… Nopony else believed nopony, not even Spike or Celestia, and she was the one to banish her.

Twilight gave up, going back to resting her head on the table and sipping her milkshake, with a somber look. This day can’t get any worse than it is now.

Several hours later – Midnight

“...AND THE NIGHT SHALL LAST FOREVER! AHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAA!”

Panic, absolute panic; ponies left and right were running in fear, bumping into each other, running over one another, and some simply fainted on the spot. Twilight stood in the middle, before she snapped from her stupor, running with a shocked Spike on her back.

I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, I KNEW IT!

Twilight kept running, heading back inside the library that would be her home, to find a solution to this problem.

Everfree Forest; Everfree Castle; Midnight

Nightmare Moon awaited for Celestia’s student and those that would wield the elements, but she knew or rather was confident they would never cross the trials ahead. For a thousand years, she would have her vengeance and rule Equestria in forever darkness. It was during this wait she saw the group approaching, until she heard the loud clip clop of hooves climbing the set of stairs that led to the tower she was in.

Finally… they arrived. Nightmare Moon turned around to face the six mares, each one that would wield the Elements of Harmony… but of course none of them would have the chance to use them.

“We have you now Nightmare Moon! Give up!” said Twilight, holding her ground.

“You think you can stop me; you will fail, and soon this world shall be mine!” shouted Nightmare Moon, raising on both hind-legs.

But before either side could take action… a strange sound came upon them – it echoed across the castle, and repeated over and over. The girls weren’t sure what that noise was… but Nightmare knew what it was… or rather the pony that was trapped within. At that small moment, a bit of Luna showed, the fear returning to her on that fateful night all those years ago.

No… no no no no NO! He… he-e-e should be dead! It can’t be him, it just can’t!

Her suspicions were answered when a song slowly began to play… and it brought only suffering to one individual in the room. The metallic scratching against stone could be heard, the song started to grow overtime, but as it grew it suddenly stopped… and a voice was heard.

“Guess who’s baaaaacccck?”

Nightmare Moon was shivering where she stood, and that voice was the one thing that kept her constantly over the edge whenever she would attempt to rest and lower her guard. Those maddening gaze, the absolute beast of a roar, and most of all… the pure bloodlust that glowed from his visage was enough to shake her to her very core.

Before she could find where the voice was coming from… the music returned, and in full bloom. Crashing down from the window behind her was a sight that became ingrained in her and those nearby forever.

Instead of the two scimitars he wielded before, he instead held not two but several knives – each knife was held by each of his four limbs, one in each hand and another two on each foot, having removed his sandals at some point; a fifth knife was held by his teeth, with the final two knives gripped by two shadowy limbs that came out of his lower back like two tails – each posed for the kill, and ready to puncture her flesh.

With swift reaction time, Nightmare Moon turned into a shadow a delved into the floor, away from the sudden ambush attack. While Locust missed he kept sight on his prey; the song kept playing over and over, not stopping. The mares watched with shock and awe before Twilight snapped them out of their stupor.

“Girls, we need to finish this, now!” Each of the girls nodded preparing to blast the power of the elements at Nightmare Moon and whatever this other thing was. It looked dangerous alone and didn’t seem to like Nightmare either so for now it would distract the two until they can seal both of them away.

Locust thrust and stabbed relentlessly with his weapons, each managed to scratch or leave a light wound on her. Each attack was of course healed, but the rapid and frontal force was too much to keep up that some of the wounds were healing quick enough. Nightmare Moon’s fear had lessen but it was still there, and she kept on the defensive until she had enough and impaled Locust with an upper spike of physical shadows.

The attack impaled Locust through the chest but all it did was get him angrier, as he melted the attack with a touch of his palms. Once free he continued his assault; this battle continued for several minutes, neither side gaining an upper hand or hoof, but it was clear that Locust was winning through his sheer ferocity and impossible to kill.

“WHY WON’T YOU! STAY! DEAD!” shouted Nightmare Moon, firing place after place, now giving up on staying defensive.

“I eat stronger attacks for breakfast! Give me moar, ya daft horse!”

“I AM NOT A HORSE! I AM AN ALICORN, AND YOU SHALL RESPECT ME!”

“Oy Nightmare Moon, you want something, then take this!” shouted Rainbow. Nightmare Moon turned to face the suffocating pegasus until she saw it – a bright blast of rainbow-colored power. It was too late, as it engulfed her before she could escape, but it caught Locust in the blast too. Nightmare Moon screamed in agony before the Nightmare was stripped from her, all that remained was a small blue alicorn, Luna.

Shortly after that, the Mane 6 faltered down from floating up in the air, panting from the tiresome experience. Celestia arrived just in time to see her sister, rushing to her and helping her up; Luna once realizing who was holding her was shaking Celestia for forgiveness, and she answered in kind.

“I would never hate you dear sister… So don’t blame yourself for what has happened to you,” said Celestia, crying joyful tears for the first time in awhile.

The sight of two sisters reunited for over thousand years brought a tear to everypony… until it was interrupted by the shifting of something behind Luna and Celestia. Everypony turned to face what was causing the movement, before the rising form of Locust stood up. His form hadn’t changed at the slightest, the only difference being that his music earlier had stopped.

The psychotic being glared with furious eyes of rage toward everyone at sight, thinking of various ways of death and agony to each of them… until his gaze came to what was once Nightmare Moon. The look changed from one of rage to confusion then blank empty stare.

The look he gave to Luna and Celestia – particularly Luna – was disturbing until it got to the point when a static voice was heard.

Sir is something the matter?

Locust spoke to Matthius, ignoring the confused looks of the ponies and where the other voice was coming from. “Matthius, where the fudge nuggets is that black arse horse at?”

Sir, we talked about this, they’re called alicorns. As for her whereabouts, you are looking at her; it appears this is her true form, the form before being similar to a Nightmare form but one that is less corrupted and more of a dark influence at best.

“So like the flu?” asked Locust, confused still.

...Yes sir, the flu…

“Huh… aight,” said Locust, accepting that logic.

Celestia wanted to ask who or what this thing was, but then she saw her sister was hiding behind her and shaking like she came out of a pool of cold water. Before she could ask her what was wrong, a loud vworp noise later and Locust and Luna disappeared. Everypony looked everywhere and saw Locust had lifted Luna by the scruff of her neck and was across the room by the broken window he came crashing through.

“Welp, time to get this over with.” Locust put away his weapons, until another knife appeared from a wrist device, creating a loud clank as it sheathed out of its hidden compartment. The fear in Luna’s eyes as she saw the glint of the very sharp device, as it was slowly pointed at her stomach.

Celestia’s eyes widen in fear about the fate of her now-soon-to-be dead sister, when Luna began whimpering loudly, as tears and snot started flow out of her. The poor lunar princess had been through near death, having all her previous power stripped from her, and would be executed the most worst and possibly painful way ever. She finally gotten her sister’s forgiveness, and now she’d die right before her very eyes.

“P-p-ple-lea-s-se… do-don-d-n-n’t, hu-hu-hur-tt-ta… mee-aahha,” said Luna, unable to speak straight.

The sad but cute look Luna was giving would give any being instant diabetes… sad to say that Locust was immune to these cute creatures. However a closer look at Luna was that she was as thin as a stick, scratch that even a stick had more thickness than her. While Locust couldn’t find his favorite food these past thousand years, he did find out things to eat so he wasn’t starving… but Luna was absolutely hungry but because of her banishment to the moon and her being an alicorn, she was able to survive but barely.

The thin physique was somewhat adorable, not enough to catch Locust’s attention but something else did catch his attention. Sheathing his hidden blade, he began to poke and prod Luna surprisingly fluffy tummy, causing a eep or a silent ticklish giggle.

“Please… would you… stop...” said Luna, embarrassed from the sudden mistreatment.

Locust had random thoughts going through his head until he asked Matthius a quick but simple question. “Matthius… can we keep her?” asked Locust, the question surprising the robot.

You wish to have her as a pet?

“No… she make a nice toy.”

Oh… I suppose there’s going to be nothing stopping you, so whatever I say will be usel-

“Indeed! You are now mine pony!” said Locust, a gleeful grin on his face.

The look while not meant to be terrifying, only caused Luna to have her ears flop against her ears and eyes to water. She then looked at her sister for helping, whimpering out loudly. “TIIIIAAAAHHH! Help us!”

Previously, Celestia was ready to save her dear sister, but the outcome was better than she thought; the alicorn sister was trying her best to hold in a strong guffaw of laughter, snickering every time Locust would prod or beginning petting her. Not only was it cute but it brought a smile to her face… but that look changed to one of seriousness – falsely, in reality she was still found this situation humorous. With a quick flash, she teleported Luna from Locust’s grip, the maniac glaring at Celestia.

“Oy give my pony back!”

“You may have my sister later… But excuse me but what exactly are you?”

I may answer this…

After several minutes of explaining, Locust and Matthius finally introduced themselves to the rulers of Equestria and the future heroines of the country. Each having their own reactions – Twilight was absolutely livid that a creature she has never heard of before existed, Applejack and Rainbow were mistrusting of him, Rarity was horrified by looking at the shape he was in, Pinkie thought he looked fun, Fluttershy was as usual, afraid, which left Celestia and Luna either afraid or curious.

I love to explain more, but that is the basics about myself and my master, Locust.

“Sup,” said Locust, casually.

Twilight rushed forward, already summoning a quill and parchment to answer all her questions. “What are you? Where do you come from? Can you use magic? Who thought you to use these weapons? What kind of technology is Matthius made from?” Before Twilight could continue, Celestia had held back her student back, making her sit down.

“I am sorry about my student, she can be… ‘excitable’ sometimes,” said Celestia.

“You mean she’s nerd?”

Rainbow and Applejack started snickering at the comment about Twilight’s bookish personality, said mare looked at her new friends with mild anger. The two mares started whistling to get her attention back at Locust; the next pony to ask was Luna, but it was more of a statement at best.

“YOU! I saw you all those years ago, when I was Nightmare Moon! How could you have lived that long, only alicorns are the only beings that can live as long as us!”

Locust gave a confused look before answering, but the answer wasn’t what they expected. “What you talking about, I am dead.”

The fearful looks at most of the ponies present were staring at Locust as if he was some sort of abomination from Tartarus; however it was Matthius to answer next.

What my master means is that he is immortal, but not the way you think. It is complicating to explain but to put it simply, in the past an experiment was done on Locust that caused him to be given near immortality or rather a rapid regenerative power to make him see m immortal when his cells are rapidly being healed or repaired, no matter how much damage is done on him.

The explanation was enough to calm them down, but they were still off about the whole thing about what Locust being the equivalent of being a zombie.

“Well farewell, I got some traveling to get back ta,” said Locust, ready to hop out the window.

“Hold it!” shouted Twilight. “You can’t just leave, especially in the middle of the night; we’re in the Everfree Forest, one of the most dangerous places in Equestria!”

“Pah, this place is a cake-walk! The only things I seen were a bunch of stickdoggies, and this weird chicken lizard… still, it tasted like chicken, even the lizard part.”

Much of the mares didn’t get that last part, but before Locust could leave, Celestia stopped him. “Wait, there’s still something I must ask or rather request from you to visit me; the castle at the edge of the mountain is where I am. Once you arrive, I’ll send somepony to find you,” said Celestia. “I wish to better know you, and if it is true about you being an immortal, it be nice to speak somebody like myself and Luna.”

Locust thought of this, before going for Matthius opinion on the idea of visiting royalty. “What’cha think Matthius?”

The proposal does sound promising… but we must return to our camp, we’ll arrive through the train at Ponyville, and arrive at Canterlot around noon.

“That is fine with me; it was wonderful meeting both you and Locust. Have a safe journey,” said Celestia, bowing.

Luna followed with a bow, but it was a bit rushed causing her to stumble a bit. Locust simply gave a simple wave, before jumping out the window and landing outside. Standing back up, Locust wandered into the forest, as the ponies watched him from afar.

“Princess, are you sure its safe to let him go? We all saw what he’s capable, even that robot of his told us what he is,” said Twilight, a bit worried.

“Do not worry my dear student, I’m sure he isn’t that bad. I may even ask you befriend him once he arrives at Ponyville.”

“I hope to the both of us that he keeps his promise… I rather not want him to go berserk,” said Luna, still shaken by Locust.

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” said Fluttershy, speaking up. “But… he didn’t say if he was coming tomorrow, nor do we know which day he would see you.”

Celestia thought of this, but smiled back at everypony. “Don’t worry, I believe he’ll make an appearance sometime; we should return back to inform everypony that I am safe… and that Equestria may have another princess now.”

Everypony returned back to Ponyville, witnessing their first encounter with Locust… and possibly their next soon.

Author's Note

Next chapter preview: Twilight's attempts at befriending Locust feel more like he's being led to a trap.

Your Friendship Sucks

Equestria; Everfree Forest; Morning

A few days have passed since Nightmare Moon’s return, and Equestria has began to slowly accept the return of Princess Celestia – albeit, some are still afraid of her – as the date’s events have slowed to a crawl. Many ponies of course did not realize how the battle with Nightmare Moon ended... nor did they knew of the existence of Locust either as that was kept secret until his arrival to Canterlot, which would be today.

Locust slept on a branch of a random tree until he fell off, landing on a parasprite back first. The small bug was smashed into gooey paste, and by the time Locust checked to see what he landed on it was barely recognizable. After cleaning himself of the mess, Locust walked off to the direction he remembered to be Ponyville.

The sound of beeps and whirs came to him before Matthius came to life; the robotic butler scanned the surroundings and spotted the direction they were taking. So you plan to visit the princess today?

“Bored, need something to do. Going to annoy Cel,” said Locust, automatically.

Well don’t forgot we’ll be heading to a populated area, so remember not to do anything reckless.

“I don’t make promises, I make trouble,” said Locust, cackling.

Sigh... well let’s hope the ponies won’t try do something to make things worse.

Ponyville; Golden Oaks Library; Morning

Twilight began to wake up from her sleep, the past few days have been somewhat quiet, but there having been some excitement like when she received tickets to go to the Grand Galloping Gala with her friends. She went downstairs and stepped into the washroom; after washing herself, she went to the kitchen to find Spike cooking a meal for them.

“Good morning Spike,” said Twilight, happily.

“Morning Twilight; hey you planning on doing anything today?” asked Spike, flipping a pancake.

“No, nothing I can think of... Maybe some of our friends might need something from us today.”

“Maybe we can see Rarity.” The young drake had hearts for pupils, until another thought came to her. “Speaking of friends, have you befriended or trying seeing Locust yet. The princess did suggest you befriend him too.”

“That’s the problem Spike, nopony knows where he lives; he didn’t even mention if he lives nearby here.”

Spike nodded in agreement going back to his flipping; once Twilight took a glass for herself, she ate her pancakes then after putting away her dishes, she and Spike went outside to enjoy the fresh morning air. The two moved down the road until they came to town square, as ponies moved around or conversed with one another.

Due to Twilight being indoors often, to be outside was kind of a new experience for her, it still was as there were still things about Ponyville she still didn’t know yet. Twilight looked around some more until she saw Applejack with some of their other friends. Nearing them, the girls were talking about something or someone; to get their attention, she shouted and waved toward them.

“Hey girls, what are you talking about?!” asked Twilight.

Rainbow turned around and spotted Twilight, gesturing her to come over. “Sup Twilight, and we were just talking about that Locust guy.”

“What exactly were you talking about him?”

“Well... We don’t think its safe for him to be left loose,” said Rarity.

“What!? But girls, Princess Celestia told me I should try befriending him, I can’t just make him go away without knowing about him!”

“Well we’re not saying we tell him to leave... but rather he behave himself if he doesn’t want any trouble here in Ponyville,” said Applejack. The rest of the girls nodded in agreement, even Pinkie who was simply following along but not fully understanding what was happening.

Twilight while only knowing the girls for a short time has become close friends – well in her opinion, that and experience with having friends are slim – but she also had to make friendships with new ponies, or in this case, whatever Locust was as Celestia has requested of her to befriend Locust.

Twilight would still try to make contact with Locust whether asked by the princess of not, as her need for knowledge and scientific curiosity, overgrew her own self-preservation from Locust’s psychotic mind.

Some distance where the Mane 6 were, the flower sisters were selling flowers to different kinds of ponies, from young couples to elderly ponies. The sisters while squeamish about strange things that occur in town – even though these activities are a normal thing – just knew what kind of flower to give to each of their customers.

It was this beautiful sunny morning that things turned for the worse; stepping out of the forest line was Locust who wielded two of scimitars and a knife vest across the middle of his torso. His clothes smelt of decay and reeked of age, but surprisingly kept their current condition these last centuries of wandering the world. What was worst however about Locust was the almost dejectedly bored look he kept on him, almost as if everything he gave a glance at was filled with absolute hate.

That look continued on until it went straight at the sisters, and the first obvious thing to do at that very situation was clear for all three of them. “MONSTER! RUUUUUUUN!” screamed all three mares, running in different directions.

The sisters panicked craze spread to any pony they met in contact or saw the sisters running, and while seeing three random mares running in fear while also being known for overreacting... everypony still panicked... because their ponies, and herd animals are easily react into a frenzy if even one of them are brought to be scared or spooked by something as simple as a flower being dropped or trampled on.

Locust watched with a little amused glee, before he continued his merry march through town, humming a tune before going into song.

“Imma be comin to ya town! Takin things and beatin folks, left and, riiiight! Its a good day to be frenzaaaaaayyyy!”

The green haired cyclops was busy with his merriment that when the Mane 6 neared the source of all the panic – which was him – the girls stopped to stare at the odd sight of the manic being singing one of the most messed up songs any being has ever heard of.

“What in tarnation is that song?!”

“I don’t even think that is a song; he’s just singing a bunch of words together in song. It doesn’t help that the subject of his song isn’t appropriate for any young ones.”

“Yeah, what about everyone who’s reading this story will think? ...Oh wait, this story is M-rated,” said Pinkie, breaking the fourth-wa- Wait... What?

“Pinkie, what?” asked Twilight.

“Huh, oh nothing Twilight, go back to asking what Locust is doing, and what he wants,” said Pinkie, already forgotten what she done before.

Twilight paused for a moment before simply ignoring Pinkie for now and figuring out what just happened. The lavender unicorn approached Locust – he was busy stuffing his hand in a flower pot, effectively getting said pot stuck – until he saw her and approached him.

Okay Twilight, there’s no reason to freak out, just introduce herself and make a first good impression.

“Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle, we met at the Everfree Castle when myself and the girls freed Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon. I was hoping to know what brought you to come to Ponyville toda-”

“Sup nerd,” said Locust, interrupting Twilight mid-talk.

Twilight was shocked by Locust rudeness, but before she could bring out a rebuttal, he stopped her by doing something else. He pointed with his pot covered hand toward Canterlot, causing the pot to be sent flying out of Locust’s hand as it went for a couple of miles before something loud – a crash and glass breaking – was heard in the distance.

“How do I get there? I wanna see hows Cel doin,” said Locust, grinning.

“Hey! That’s Princess Celestia buddy; don’t get all mushy with her highness!” shouted Rainbow, going muzzle-to-muzzle, or muzzle-to-nose with Locust.

“You got balls Skittles... I like you!” said Locust, his grin growing wider.

Rainbow couldn’t tell what a Skittles was, but to her it sounded like an insult; before she could throw a hoof at him, Applejack wrangled her back with both her legs hooked underneath Rainbow’s frontal hooves.

“LET ME AT HIM! LET ME AT HIM!” screamed Rainbow, to give Locust a thrashing.

Locust continued to laugh at Rainbow’s attempts, seeing her feeble attempt at violence entertaining. Twilight sighed before looking at Locust with an apologetic look.

“I’m so sorry about my friend Rainbow, she can be a little... serious about her loyalties with ponies.”

“Da fuck? Why you apologizing, you didn’t do shit?”

“LANGUAGE!” shouted Rarity, in shock. Fluttershy was equally shocked but hid it by hiding behind her mane. Applejack amply dropped Rainbow, in favor of covering both Pinkie and Spike’s ears the second she saw Locust’s confused look.

“Whoa there; there’s no need to speak that kind of language!”

“And who told you I can’t speak the way I like?! I’d bloody say fuck all I want... I might as well say it even more! Fuck fuck fuckity fuck-fuck!”

Twilight had her mouth agape as well as a few other ponies nearby before shaking her shock away with a serious look in her eye. “Look here, I don’t know where or who thought you to speak that way – especially in front of ponies you just met – especially with children nearby, but you need to say your sorry for your behavior just now!”

Now something like this would be normal for any sort of situation… except this was Locust and nothing about this situation was close to normal. Locust brought a knife to Twilight’s throat with such swiftness, it was as if lightning itself appeared. The madman glared at Twilight menacingly, his knife glinting off the sun, as its reflection shown the sharpness that was both Locust’s knife and teeth.

“I think yoos the one that need tah be apologizing… I came here cus I wanted to, but I get screamed at by a bunch of random mares, causing you horse-thingies to go running into a frenzy. One of yeah comes up to mah personal space, another judges my sense of looks, and now you start questin my way of speaking? BITCH, I KILL FOR A LIVIN, SO UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR INSIDES SPLATTERED LIKE PAINT, I SAY YOU KEEP WHATEVER HAPPY GO LUCKY GREETIN YA PLANNED BEFORE I DECIDED TO EVISARATE YOUR EVERYTHING ALL OVA THIS TOWN!”

Twilight was pissing herself as the knife caused a bit of her fur to fall into a small pile onto the ground. The mare made a small attempt at speaking, only coming up with a weak mewl as she was afraid to move a single muscle. Locust retracted his knife, sliding it back on where he got it from before continuing to speak.

“Besides, I cam har for directions, but nooooo! You decide to be all ‘friendly’ and ‘cooperative’… That’s not how you act tah someone carrying weapons! Can yah believe these folks?”

Locust was staring at an empty part on his left where nopony or anything was; after a few awkward seconds, Locust laughed, nodding in agreement with the empty air. “Indeed… bunch of horsies are morons too! Welp, Imma leavin, bye!”

Locust wandered off to what he assumed was the train station before stopping again, and spotting a basket that was filled with different food, dropped by a pony who ran in fear. “…This is mine, and you can’t du shite… bitches...” Locust said, going back to his humming.

After Locust finally left, Twilight then fainted where she was; the last noises she heard was the panicked sounds of her friends and Spike, each trying to wake her up. Maybe I should of stayed indoors, and read a book… Books don’t try to threaten you with a knife.

Locust wandered some more through Ponyville before coming to the train station; he sat by one of the benches at the now abandoned station – everypony ran in fear at the sight of him – munching on a piece of toast from the basket.

Sir, was it necessary to give that sort of reaction toward them, I believe they wanted to give their way of greeting and extended hand or hoof of friendship toward you.

“BAH! Their friendship can eat dick… you dun become friends by saying hi, and talkin… You gotta earn trust and hard days of constant bickering to truly know the other dude… Can’t simply pick some random nice bloke to watch my back; at least the guy who’ll say he’ll shoot me in the face for being annoying more trustworthy than that weirdo bloke… Never trust the weirdo bloke.” At some point Locust was mumbling something about pineapples, and explosions.

While your explanation needs some better rephrasing, indeed you are correct; a majority of those mares had their doubts, with only two of them only show some sign of wanting to befriend you. One simply was following orders or some sort of lesson from Princess Celestia, while the other simply wanted to complete their own end goals… though the dragon I’m not sure what he wanted, but he was simply following the one you threatened earlier.

“Threatened? HA! All I did was show her to not act like she knows better than, and rethin tah not fuck aroun her authority. I can see somebuddy with connections… I hate pople with connections… they can connect with each other, bunch of wankying wankers.”

The train arrived at that very moment, and was empty; Locust stepped in without much question, as it closed itself, heading straight to Canterlot.

“Besides… their friendship sucks and is pretty bullshitty for my tastes.”

Well they are herd animals, so they have the instincts to stay together, so they’ll easily trust others, especially their own kind, which is why it was easy to kidnap young mares and colts due to the kidnappers being ponies themselves, who either worked for crime rings or for their own sickening intentions.

“At least when I do shit, I don’t fuck over others unless I’m in the mood… Bunch of fucking pricks, them arseholes.”

The train clacked down the tracks, as the mountain city could be seen in the distance; Matthius spoke once more to relay some information that would be important about the location they were heading to.

Sir, I scanned those girls and the unicorn – the one you… scared – used to live at the capital, Canterlot. If the other locals are acting just like her or worse, its best we keep a low profi-

“OH FUCK THE LOW SHIT AND THAT; BOUT TIME WE START GETTIN FREAKY IN THIS JOINT!” yelled Locust, unsheathing both scimitars. “TIME TO GET PSYCHO ON THESE BITCH FOOLS! ACTIVATE MUSIC!”

Matthius sighed, already having lost Locust the second he mentioned what the ponies in Canterlot might be like. There was one thing Locust hated more than anything… it was snobbish, authoritive, wankers… pretty much, he hated fancy folks in simple terms.

Of course… activating song four, track three… now.

The music that began to play started off quiet before a beat started to increase, the pace growing before it went quiet again before exploding once more. The singer was female but showed off its own kind of crazy that Locust favored greatly… the song was so good, that Locust joined in singing to it… well… that and the song would be kept on loop until they reached the city where he put it to full blast.

“Oh… I’m going to tear shit up… and more. Hehhehehehehehehe,” said Locust, his signature laughter beginning.

Author's Note

Next chapter preview: A lot of nobles are about to get robbed, ridiculed, and razed to the ground... Just another Monday, here for Locust.