Once upon a time... there was an ending. Very much similar to another ending, but that is a different story altogether.
This story begins in a place known simply as The World. The World was a fairly idyllic place as far as Worlds go: Green meadows, peasants singing joyous songs, sheep roaming the land. Perfectly peaceful. Disgusting more like. We minions really don't like, as in, hate all things Good. Oh, forgive me, I believe I haven't introduced myself. My name is Gnarl. Minion Master and more importantly, advisor to the Overlord himself!
And currently... unemployed. Unfortunately, we, uh... lost our last Master-
"Much like we did with the last'n! An' the one before 'im!"
Shut up, Quaver! Right as you may be, you don't need to interrupt. Grubby! Make sure he doesn't break into song any time soon. Bloody Jesters... But yes, once a land has been thoroughly corrupted with Evil's goodness, the Overlord does tend to get a bit restless, and off he goes searching for more lands to plunder.
Our most recent Master was the Fourth Overlord I have served. Why, I've known him since he was just an Overlad. Ah the misery we caused... such wonderfully Evil times, but I digress. With the Fourth Overlord's defeat of the Glorious Empire and the death of that idiot Emperor, he did in fact grow tired and even bored; not having any more loot to steal, not having any soldiers to maim or houses to burn. So one day, after a particularly boring day of peasants grovelling, our Lord decided that he would go in search of a new World to conquer, taking his Mistresses and a large group of Minions with him, sending word for us once he'd found one.
That was... ah, I forget how many years ago that was. We Minions are loyal, but even we know when to move on. So, with heavy hearts, we set out to find a new Master, at least until the old one returned, if at all.
That was of course until...
The Big Book of Evil, which led us to Nordberg in the first place (where we found the Overlad), snapped open to reveal new details under the "E" section.
I gathered the minions immediately: Blaze, Gash, Gloob, Giblet, Grubby, Mouldy, Mortis, Quaver and many others. We believed that our new Master would be especially Evil, what with the page opening at E, the Evilest letter of course. The Book showed us a map, full of green areas, sunshine and rainbows. We collectively threw up in our mouths, and wondered what sort of Evil creature would inhabit such a place.
I noticed a dark patch of land, a dense forested area labelled Everfree, despicably good name, and decided we should start there. The Book also informed us, to our chagrin, that this new realm was protected by ancient magic, usually undetectable to the Big Book of Evil, but for whatever reason had been revealed to us now, and as such constructing a Netherworld portal would take considerable amounts of time.
For a lesser Minion perhaps.
Giblet, our head digger, was immediately set to work constructing tunnels upon tunnels, a vast network of twists and turns (he does love his twists and turns so) and took Mortis with him. Mortis being our residential magic expert, as well as ferryminion for the souls of those slain in battle, would prove useful in probing for weaknesses in this ancient magic.
I read over the book's page again, looking for signs of what our new Lord would look like, or how we would be able to spot them. From what I could gather - the Fifth Overlord would be shorter than most Overlords, and possibly living under a new identity. To my disappointment, the E in which this place was under was not actually the glorious word Evil. Instead it was a longer word, a word that made me want to wash my mouth out with soap and hot water. And I hate soap!
...Equestria... I mean look at that word. It just reeks of Good. Needs a good smashing I say.
I shuddered as the Book closed itself, being a magical book it can do that. Giblet informed me later that evening that the tunnel was nearing construction. I decided to oversee the final parts for myself, readying the Browns, Reds, Greens and Blues, and headed into the tunnels. When I emerged, I thought to myself, the tunnel would be finished... and a new dark reign would begin, with a new Overlord!
Because Evil...
Evil always finds a way.
~
The sun gracefully crested over the horizon, casting a golden yellow glow over Equestria.
The cockerel of Sweet Apple Acres sang good morning to the world as the day started anew. Most ponies in Ponyville were opening their windows and wishing good morning to one another at this time of the morning. Most.
in the small farmhouse, Apple Bloom shut her eyes and pulled the blanket over herself. "Oh not today," she groaned, "not today..." At that moment, her sister, as loud as ever, kicked the door open and hollered at the top of her voice.
"Woohee! Rise an' shine Apple Bloom!" Applejack shouted cheerily, bumping her younger sister awake and beamed. "School's awaitin'!"
The young filly scowled and crawled out of bed, taking the covers with her. "Ah don't wanna go to school today," she muttered. Of course, Applejack, used to this sort of thing, just laughed.
"It's not funny Applejack!" Applebloom cried, "it's show and tell today, and I just know Diamond Tiara is gonna do hers about her cutie mark, an' make fun of me for not having one yet." She slumped down miserably and put her hooves over her eyes.
Applejack rolled her eyes and put a hoof around her baby sister's neck. "Aw cheer up filly," she said, still full of cheer. "I know its hard not having your cutie mark yet, an' I know you don't get along well with Diamond Tiara..."
"Not gettin' along would be an understatement," Apple Bloom muttered under her breath.
Applejack didn't hear her and continued.
"...But you can't just skip school. I mean, what would Twilight say? She'd never let me hear the end of it," she laughed. "Now get along, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will be waitin' for ya." She gave an encouraging smile at her younger sister and gestured towards the door. "Brush your teeth and get somethin' ta eat."
"Sure, Applejack," Apple Bloom sighed, "at least I won't be the only one teased, I guess." She did enjoy seeing her friends, also lacking cutie marks, more than anything. She trotted out her room and went to the bathroom to wash up.
Her sister remained behind, however, and tutted at the messy bed. "Sometimes that pony forgets her own manners."
Applejack picked up the bed covers and slung them over her back. She gazed out the window and took a whiff of that fresh apple smell. She smiled. "Ahh. Nothin' better than that smell," she murmured to herself, and started down the stairs, pausing at the top to wait for her sister.
The young filly finished in the bathroom and quickly joined her. "You know something, AJ?" she said, far happier than a few minutes ago.
Applejack smiled again. "What's that then?" she asked as they started down.
"Even if I get teased, at least I'll know that Diamond Tiara doesn't have the bestest big sister in the world." Applebloom beamed and skipped down the rest of the stairs, waiting at the bottom and staring up expectantly.
Her sister blushed and lowered her hat over her bright green eyes.
"Gosh darn it Applebloom," she chuckled softly, "you sure do know how to make my day." She beamed with pride.
The pair of them laughed as they moved into the kitchen, where their granny and big brother were waiting for them. "Lemme just put this away." She unslung the bed sheets from her back and dropped it into the wash basket.
"There. Alright so what's for breakfast?"
Granny Smith smacked her lips. "The usual. Apple soup." her voice was as old as she was,
Big Macintosh, Mac for short, chuckled and said in his deep but reassuring voice, "Eeyup."
Apple Bloom licked her lips as Granny passed the bowl around, while Applejack ladled bowlfuls out. "My favourite," she said as her stomach grumbled.
"Dig in everypony!" Granny Smith exclaimed. The Apple family laughed and talked to one another as they enjoyed breakfast, making small talk and jokes as they tuck into their soup.
Meanwhile a pair of small yellow eyes watched the big, red barn from the treeline...
