The Endless War of Fate

Chapter II: Trouble in Equestria

Honor Trail arrives at her home to hear her little filly giggling excitedly at something, then walks through the door into her home to see her prancing and jumping about using her brilliant amber wings to add lift to her jumps. She closes the door behind her and smiles saying, "Hey sweetie, mommy's home! What has you so excited?"

Star Light giggles and stops jumping around and flapping her wings, hiding her flank from her mother's view and says, "Welcome home! I have a surprise for you mommy, guess what it is!" She looks at Fluttershy and makes a soft shushing noise to keep her from telling her mother.

She smiles and looks up in thought and answers with a smirk on her face, "You graduated early from school!"

Star laughs and lets out a gigglesnort and says, "Not even close mother! I have finally gotten my cutie mark!" She turns and folds her wings to show her mother what is on her rump.

She smiles widely and looks at the picture on her flank depicting four vertical black bars with a long red horizontal bar down below them with a whistle to the right of the black bars and races over to her daughter happily saying, "I am so proud of you sweetie, now we can ask Pinkie Pie to throw you a Cute-ceanera!" She throws her forehooves around her little filly in a big hug and says to her, "Why don't you go tell your friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders the good news, mommy needs to tell Fluttershy something that I learned at work today."

Almost as if she could hear herself being summoned, Pinkie Pie pops up out of nowhere with a giant grin on her face and says, "Did somepony say party?!"

Honor Trail, Fluttershy and Star Light all giggle at Pinkie's behavior as Honor Trail says, "Hello Pinkie Pie, yes we will be needing to throw my little filly a Cute-ceanera. Do you think that it would be possible to schedule one a week from today?"

Pinkie Pie looks up in thought and says, "Let me check my schedule." She pulls out a notebook that she uses to keep track of the parties she has to throw, after some quiet mumbling she says, "Next week from today is oki doki loki!" She prepares to leave and is stopped by Honor Trail. She looks at her and says, "Hmm?"

She looks at Pinkie Pie and says, "Please hold on a moment Pinkie, you might want to hear this as well." She then looks at her filly and says, "Sweetie, you should get going if you want to be back by dinnertime."

Star giggles and laughs then responds, "Okay mommy, I am glad that you are keeping those awful bad guys in line when you are working at the prison. Boy this is turning out to be a great day! I got this a little over an hour ago, maybe someday I too will help you keep them in line. I will be back in a few hours, I love you mommy! Bye!" She darts out of the house and shuts the door behind her and runs off a distance so her mom sees her leave and then turns in a big circle, returning home to hear what her mom has to tell Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.

Honor trail looks through the window to make sure her daughter isn't around to overhear what she is about to say, unaware that her daughter is just out of view by the door and turns to look back to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie and says, "You two know that I work at the prison under Canterlot Castle right?"

Pinkie's mane and tail deflate a little at hearing that and looks back at her with squinty eyes and responds, "You mean where that monster is?"

She sighs and answers, "Yes, I do mean him Pinkie. The princesses asked me to bring him before them today, they came to a decision after a long series of debates with Carl Knoxx and other ponies. You will never guess what punishment they have decided for him.

Pinkie's mane reinflates as she jumps about and says, "He's going to the moon for a thousand years!"

She looks between Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy then answers, "They gave him the death penalty Pinkie, he has two months left before he goes to the guillotine. You two are supposed to be friends, yet you haven't visited him once."

Fluttershy gasps in shock saying, "Oh my, that is really bad. It is forbidden isn't it? So maybe they will change their minds once they realize their mistake."

She watches as Pinkie's mane and tail make a sound like a balloon popping and fall flat against her body then says, "It is still forbidden. They brought it back just for him because of the alicorn he murdered. There's no chance of them changing their minds Fluttershy."

Fluttershy hangs her head as tears start to make their way down her cheeks as she starts to sniffle and sob saying, "I will have to try to make things up to him and go see him soon. We have been so terrible to him since the day we watched her fall and hit the ground without a horn and only one wing."

Pinkie turns her head downward and looks at the ground saying, "Because of him, I won't be able to throw her a birthday party. I was so angry at him for taking her from us that I refused to throw a birthday party for him or even send him a card." Her eyes start to water, then turns to Fluttershy and hugs her.

Honor Trail recalls what her daughter said a little earlier and sighs saying, "I wish it was a happy event that caused you to get your cutie mark, Star Light. Now you won't have the chance to meet your father for the first time, now you can only meet him before he dies."

A few minutes pass before Fluttershy and Pinkie release each other as Pinkie forces her mane to go back to its normal poofiness and says, "Well Fluttershy, we should go and gather the others and notify them of the news."

Fluttershy sighs and says, "Yes, I do think we should gather them and tell them together. This is not happy news Pinkie Pie, but we should keep up appearances until we tell the other girls."

As Pinkie and Fluttershy wave and say goodbye to her, she watches them head towards the door as they both say, "Congratulations on your daughter getting her Cutie Mark!"

Star Light is floored by what she hears and takes off running to the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse to tell them what she heard and thinks, 'Oh my god, Carl Knoxx is my father, and the princesses are going to kill him! This isn't right, I need to get the Cutie Mark Crusaders on the case, maybe we can save him. I really want to see my father some day, I want him to come to all ofmy birthday parties and be a part of my life!'

Honor Trail smiles and says, "Thank you, I will be sure to tell her that. Today is Friday, visiting hours are over for today. Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. But for Death Row they are Monday to Friday from 11 a.m to 3:00 p.m, be sure to visit him within a month. After thirty days from today, he won't be allowed visitors anymore as he has to get his affairs in order."

Several miles away hidden inside of a cave sits the Tree of Harmony, a robin sits upon the branch and takes off when the tree groans and one of its branches cracks and falls to the ground, shattering as the light coming from the tree darkens a bit.

A couple of hours later...

Twilight is at the friendship table with her friends sitting in their seats all wondering what news Fluttershy and Pinkie had to give them. She notices that Fluttershy's smile is a little bit off and Pinkie's mane and tail also look a bit odd saying, "Are you two feeling ok? Something is off about the two of you. Your smile is a bit off Fluttershy and Pinkie, your mane is a little too frizzy."

Applejack looks towards Twilight and says, "Ya noticed that too didja? Ah wondered mahself what was goin' on wit' those two."

Rarity smiles and looks to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie then says, "Now darlings, please tell us what news you have that has you looking and acting that way?"

Fluttershy is the first one to speak and says, "We heard from Honor Trail that Carl Knoxx met Princess Luna and Princess Celestia earlier today and came to a decision on his punishment."

All eyes snap to Fluttershy as she lets her smile drop from her face and turn into a frown as her ears droop down a little bit as she looks towards Pinkie Pie to continue.

The eyes shift to Pinkie Pie as her mane and tail go flat against her body, making a sound like a deflating balloon. She then sighs and says, "He was moved to Death Row today, he will be facing the death penalty by the guillotine in two months."

Rarity is the first to speak up and gasps saying, "Good gracious darling that is just horrible!"

Rainbow Dash stands up in her chair and says, "Good riddance to that criminal!"

Twilight slams her hooves on the table as tears begin to trail down her face and exclaims, "He deserves it for taking a family member away from me!" She rises up from the table and starts to run towards her room in her crystal castle when a chunk falls off of the corner of the back of her chair and lands on the floor, getting everyone's attention as half of the back falls from Rainbow Dash's chair to the floor.

They all look at the chairs as the glowing emblems on the backs of the chairs darken a bit, instantly concerning Twilight as she stares at the two chairs that received significant damage somehow and says, "Uhm...girls, I think there may be a problem here."

Rainbow Dash looks at Twilight and says, "You think! Half of the back of my chair just fell off, and a piece fell off of the corner of your chair Twilight! We need to find out what is wrong and fix this."

Applejack looks to Twilight and says, "Ah agree with her, somethin' tells me this aint sposed to happen sugarcube."

Twilight stands tall and smiles saying, "Ok girls, let's go check on the Tree of Harmony and see if anything is threatening it. That is where the table and chairs get their power from." She then begins to lead them out of the castle and towards the cave deep in the Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy approaches Twilight and says to her, "That wasn't a very nice thing to say Twilight, you should consider how he feels about being punished so severely for taking her life. Maybe he was trying to save her life like he said, and it was just an unfortunate accident that she fell."

Twilight turns her head to look at her friend and replies, "Y-You're right Fluttershy, it wasn't. He took away a member of my family. I'm sorry, but I am not ready to forgive him for that yet."

Applejack listens to their conversation and says, "Ah hear ya, ah'm upset about her death too. Ah jus wish that the Element of Honesty would be able to tell if he was bein' truthful or not, maybe we can go visit him and try again?"

Rainbow Dash kicks rocks out of her way to the side of the path and says, "I was just really upset that I wouldn't be able to show her how awesome my latest trick is."

Rarity attempts to improve the mood a little bit saying, "I think it would be worth a chance to see if it would work, we should also visit him to try to make amends with him. You know we haven't gone to see him once since he was sent to prison, we weren't very good friends to him when he needed somepony."

Everypony except Rainbow Dash and Twilight agree to that immediately, as they hesitate and agree to get the truth first before they make a decision.

Pinkie Pie smiles and says, "We can take him a cake saying Sorry we weren't very nice to you, and it sucks that you don't have much longer to live, but we will try to make it up to you for not being there."

Everypony chuckles lightly at what she says as Rarity replies, "I think that would be a very nice gesture Pinkie, but I think the wording in the middle should be worded a little bit better."

The group make their way towards the cave where the Tree of Harmony is when they eventually arrive at the edge of the Everfree Forest as Applejack speaks up saying, "Is it jus me or does the Everfree look a little bit less intimidating?"

Fluttershy passes by the trees that once really creeped her out and says, "You are right Applejack, I wonder why this forest is becoming less terrifying? I will have to ask my friend Tree Hugger if she knows anything about it."

As they arrive at the cave four hours later, the girls all enter and gasp as their eyes spot the Tree of Harmony. They see that one of the branches is broken and laying in shards on the floor as the tree itself has a moderate glow to it, while the gem that represents Loyalty has a crack going through the middle of the gem, sitting in its slot with a moderate glow to it. The gem representing Magic moderately glows just like the others, but with a piece missing out of one of the points.

Twilight stares at the tree in shock and says, "Come on girls, we need to inform the princesses of this development immediately!" She then takes off running with the others close behind her.

Midnight, Back at Canterlot Prison

A barely noticeable black mist filters into the prison, making its way towards Carl Knoxx's cell unnoticed by others. It seeps under the locked iron doors and passes the sleeping guards in the guard room who are supposed to be on watch, making it's way towards it's destination. As it slowly creeps through the cracks around the door frame, it floats up towards the sleeping body of its target and enters through the skin. It keeps on funneling into the body with some dark purpose that has yet to be realized.

My body tosses and turns under my bed sheets trying to find a comfortable position. My dream started out peaceful, but now it is beginning to take a darker turn. I am dreaming that I am floating through the air invisible to any pony, I near the Everfree Forest and see that it is becoming more and more tame. I pass through various lands and notice that creepy looking places all over are starting to appear more welcoming, as I weave my way across the snowy lands of the Crystal Empire I can see a shadowy form fleeing from something that I cannot see. So I get closer to the shadowy form and I notice that it is King Sombra, but he turns his head to look behind him as he runs. I catch a terrified look upon his face as he continues to flee in terror of whatever may be chasing him and I hear him plead, "Please! I will do whatever you want me to, I will serve you oh lord. Just please let me LIIVE....AAHHH!!" His screaming is cut off as his shadowy form dissipates into the air as whatever was chasing him seems to have caught and taken him.

The scene changes around me and I find myself in the throne room before the Princesses once more as they pass down my punishment. My anger begins to rise as they start laughing at me, I raise one part of my lips in an angry scowl and clench my fists in return and yell back at them, "I do not deserve to even be in prison! By what right do you have to sentence me to death?!"

Nightmare Celestia looks down in rage at the puny human who claimed the life of one of the few remaining Alicorns in existence and answers in the royal voice, "WE ARE THE RIGHTFUL RULERS OF THIS LAND YOU PITIFUL APE! YOU HAVE TAKEN THE LIFE OF AN ALICORN, FOR THAT YOU MUST DIE!"

Nightmare Luna stares down at him then glances over at her sister for a moment and returns her gaze back to the one that has taken somepony dear to them saying, "THOU ARE A MONSTER, YOU KNEW THAT THERE AREN'T THAT MANY ALICORNS IN THE WORLD, AND YET YOU STILL KILLED HER!"

I shout back at them, "How many times do I have to tell you stupid whorses! I did not kill her, I was trying to pull her back onto the balcony. She was standing on the railing, when her back hoof slipped and she started to fall. I managed to grab onto her damaged wing and horn then tried to bring her back up, I wasn't trying to pull her wing off or break her horn!"

Nightmare Luna increases the volume of her royal voice and shouts back, "HOW LONG ARE THOU GOING TO LIE TO US YOU STUPID APE! IF YOU DON'T START TELLING THE TRUTH, WE MIGHT JUST KILL YOU RIGHT HERE AND NOW!"

My fists shake in rage as they continue to shout at me, I feel the desire to strike them rise from deep down inside of me. I tell them once more, "You are sentencing an innocent man to die, it was an unfortunate accident that she fell to her death."

Meanwhile...At Canterlot, in the Throne Room

Princess Luna is presiding over night court, when the last citizen exits the throne room. She takes a deep breath of relief at not having any more petitioners to deal with, so she can perform her nightly duties in the Dream Realm. As she makes herself comfy beside the throne she sits in, she puts her body into a light trance so she can hear what goes on around her and enters the Dream Realm.

She begins to wander around the Dream Realm and uses her innate ability to search for any nightmares that her ponies might be having at the moment, finding it rather peaceful until she senses a darkness pervading the space around her. She begins to hunt for the source of the darkness as it seems to be coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Then she catches a slight hint of fear and rage coming from further back in the Dream Realm.

As she hunts for the source of the darkness that pervades the Dream Realm, she eventually arrives at a door that is blocked by a prison door and sighs. She then unlocks it using her magic and slides it open, then steps through the first door and opens the second door. She enters the isolated dream room for the prisoners and after looking around the room, she notices one door that looks ready to fall off its hinges and approaches it. Seeing a plaque upon the door too dirty to read, she uses her magic and brushes the filth away and reads the writing, Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.

Letting out an audible hmph, she turns the handle and walks through it and finds herself inside the dream of Carl Knoxx, she is about to turn around and exit when she hears her own royal voice being used at maximum volume saying, "A CREATURE SUCH AS YOU DOES NOT DESERVE LOVE, LET ALONE A FAMILY! I SHALL HUNT DOWN ANY MARE YOU HAVE LAIN WITH AND SLAUGHTER THEM AND ANY FOAL THEY MAY HAVE HAD WITH YOU, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE YOUR BLOODLINE CONTINUE TO EXIST!"

She is shocked at watching a giant Princess Luna and Princess Celestia both laughing at the torment he is going through. She walks forward and shouts at the dream, "Enough! Begone!" but is shocked when nothing happens and tries again. She rears up onto her hind legs and slams them down on the ground using her power over the Dream Realm to force the dream to go away, but is thrown back by whatever is keeping this nightmare continuing on. She begins to feel a strange pull on her subconscious and tries to fight whatever it is trying to do to her and looks on in fear as the Tantabus she keeps in her own personal dream prison, is pulled from her and passes in front of her face with a look of fear as it desperately attempts to return to her.

She watches as it is drawn towards the prisoner, becomes mist and is absorbed, then she finally notices that tendrils of darkness are making their way towards him and are also being absorbed. She charges a spell to fight the darkness making its way into Carl Knoxx's body but is struck and sent flying along the floor, twisting one of her hooves. Looking up from her current position wincing in pain, she sees a form that is easily three times her height.

A storm rages behind the form and provides a better look at the form before her, showing her that the creature stands on two legs, has a skeletal body wearing a hooded pitch black robe, with small green sparks in the center of the eye sockets of the skull face serving as eyes. Another, even brighter flash reveals a large pair of black feathered wings and a massive harvesting scythe with a straight but crooked staff that he is holding with the staff part extended towards her with the blade on the other side of his body.

Luna looks at the large creature and starts to feel uneasy being before it then says, "Who and what are you and what right do you have to interfere with my royal duties!?"

The creature holds its pose and answers her without moving its jaws, "I am one of the mighty four, The Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I am known as Death or the Reaper, Kinslayer, Executioner, or even The Pale Rider. Most just call me Death, I am here because of recent events. I am not going to let you prevent this nightmare from finishing, after all...this nightmare is of both you and your sister's making. I will only tell you once, Do not try to interfere or I will force you to leave."

She looks at Death and scowls at them saying, "I am Princess Luna, I rule over this space where my subjects dream and make it so they can rest peacefully without nightmares interrupting their rest. You have no authority over me, begone you foul creature!" She once again uses her magic and tries to banish them from the Dream Realm, only to be bashed with the back of the scythe's blade, breaking a few ribs.

Death looks at her and says, "I warned you not to interfere again, it is time you leave." He watches as she coughs up some blood and tries to speak when he raises his scythe and swings it, cutting her dream form in half with the blade.

Moments ago near Celestia's bedroom

Twilight leads her friends down the halls of the castle, heading for Celestia's chambers to inform her of what they just learned and arrive right outside of her door as she says to the two guards beside her door, "Stand aside, I must speak to Princess Celestia immediately."

The guards move out of the way and allow her to approach the door as one of them says, "Very well Princess Twilight, you may proceed."

Twilight steps up to the door and bangs on it with a hoof loudly and says, "Princess Celestia, we need to speak to you! There is an emergency and we need to deal with it quickly!"

Princess Celestia wakes up with a start and rolls over and falls out of bed accidentally, she then hears a loud banging on the door as Twilight says, "Princess Celestia are you there?!" She tidies up her mane a little bit while she hurries to the door saying, "One moment Princess Twilight, I will be right there."

She waits patiently by the door when it opens and her former mentor stands before her and says, "I am so terribly sorry for waking you at this hour Princess Celestia, but we may have a major problem."

She blinks and says, "Come on in girls, what is this emergency that you speak of?"

The dutiful nerd leads her group inside and begins to explain herself saying, "Earlier today, we heard from Fluttershy and Pinkie that you brought back the death penalty just for Carl Knoxx. The girls and I were at my castle just outside of Ponyville when they returned from Honor Trail's house, when Rainbow and I commented on his fate. Just then, a piece fell off of the corner of the back of my chair and half of Rainbow's chair's back broke and landed on the floor. That is not the only thing that happened though, the glow that comes from all of the emblems darkened a bit. When we went to check on the Tree of Harmony, that is when we made a startling discovery. The Tree of Harmony is damaged and is glowing less brightly now for some reason we do not yet know.

Princess Celestia's eye shoot open wide and she says, "Did you tell anypony this besides me yet?"

Twilight shakes her head side to side saying, "No Princess, we didn't tell any other pony. What shall we do about this, has something like this happened before?"

She thinks back and is unable to remember such a thing ever happening before and says, "Unfortunately Twilight, I cannot remember something such as this ever happening. Perhaps we should go see my sister Lulu to see if she may have read anything about repairing the elements."

She then says to her, "Lead the way princess, I sure hope there is a way to repair the Elements. They are our only defense against strong enemies. If those are gone, we are helpless against anything that is stronger than the four remaining Alicorns."