The Abyssal Requiem

Regaining her consciousness, Cadance woke up and found herself laying on a stone table, tied up and gagged. She looked around and saw various creatures surrounding the stone table. Having already figured out that something sinister is bound to occur, she tries to break out of her bond by using her horn. But to her horror, it was covered in Ooze and deemed useless. As she continues to struggle, she flips to the right side and discovers someone familiar. Upon getting a closer look, she discovers that it was the corpse of the baby dragon who nearly destroyed Old Equestria… Spike.

“He looks nice, doesn’t he~?” a voice spoke, hovering over the captive alicorn.

Cadance looks up and it turns out to be none other than Cozy Glow. Having finally realized the truth, Cadance glares at the young pegasus and tries to break loose from her binds. But it proved to be fruitless as Cozy Glow gave her a smug grin while playing with Spike’s corpse.

“Those binds holding your body are smudged in the Ooze. Even if you were blessed with the powers of the Shadow King, you have no chance of escaping. So please quit struggling and LISTEN TO ME!!!!” Cozy Glow yelled.

After realizing that she exploded, Cozy Glow regained her composure, she said,

“If I remove the gag, you will not scream~. If you do, I’ll have my minions eat you alive~. Your daughter will be next too~. Now please be a good alicorn and be quiet~.”

Cadence shot another glare in response, but complied to Cozy’s demand. Doing like she promised, Cozy Glow moved on top of Cadance and took her gag off. After removing her gag, Cozy Glow continued in a venomous tone,

“While I’m not sure when your friends will arrive, your daughter will be wanting to rescue you~. But that stupid daughter of yours… she is so naive~! She’s like a cat wandering into a dog yard~! How she’s even your daughter is beyond me~! Always crying when nothing goes her way and always pretending that everything is all candy mountains and chocolate milk lakes~! Wah~! Wah~! Wah~! She’s a pathetic excuse of a princess~! Just-!”

Cozy Glow was nearly zapped from a short distance by Cadance and barely missed.

“One more insult about my daughter and I promise that I won’t miss the next shot, Cozy Glow.” Cadance coldly said.

“Is that a dare I hear~? We will see about that, my queen~.” said Cozy Glow before turning to one of the shamans and saying to a hippogriff, “How long will it be until the magic transfer is complete, Hans~?”

“It will take an hour until the light and dark magic is transferred into the God of Shadows. And knowing those meddlesome ponies, they shouldn’t be far behind.” Hans answered.

“Precisely~. Which is why we will be sending in a diversion~. Some of you dragons and griffins need to deal with some critters in the forest~. Give us all the time we need~.” Cozy Glow commanded in a snotty tone.

“Yes, ma’am!” most of the dragons said before turning away in a disgusted tone.

Turning her attention back to Cadance, Cozy Glow said,

“Now let’s see how much magic you hold in that broken tooth on your forehead~.”

“My daughter will stop you. You just don’t know it yet.” Cadance said once again in a cold tone.

“Whatever you say~. Begin ritual~!” ordered Cozy Glow.

Hearing her command, Hans, along with the hippogriffs, pounded their staffs into the ground in a rhythmic fashion. Several minutes into the ritual, they begin this chanting with a deep choir-like voice to their incantation as they raise their staffs. The next thing that happened, lightning came out of their staffs and formed a sphere above Cadance and Spike. Panicking, Cadance tried breaking free from her binds. But it was all in vain as two lightning bolts entered Cadance’s horn and their mouths before their energy started getting sucked out. Cadance felt nothing but pain as her magic started disappearing. But just then, Spike started coming back to life and he screamed in agony of having his dark energy being taken out of his body and into the mummified goat.

. . .

Hearing the screams from far away, the trio moved forward with caution and vigilance. Even after what happened ten years ago, Everfree Forest was still a dangerous place and everypony rarely ever goes into the place as it still has a dark presence. But regardless, they were halfway towards finding the source of the Ooze and they were certain that Cozy Glow had already begun the ritual.

“I can hear the screaming from across here.” Starlight said.

“If Cozy Glow has already begun the ritual, then we need to hurry. Celestia knows what she’s planning against us.” Tempest said with a dreadful feeling in her stomach.

“We better keep going then. If Cozy Glow has already started, then we will be in even greater danger than ever before.” Sunset said she felt the source of the dark energy.

Moving through the entire forest, they could already feel the aura surrounding them. It was a feeling that they remember all too well after defeating the Shadow King ten years ago. Sooner or later, there would have to be an ambush. And whatever ambush they would run into, they would be ready. Sweat trickled down their heads, butterflies flew in their stomach, and their mentalities were steeled for the dangers they were prepared to face. Having already wandered into enemy territory, they readied themselves for the worst. But suddenly, they heard,

“CONTACT!!!”

Dragons and griffins jumped out of the bushes and fired at the trio. Immediately, they dodged out of the way and fought back against the creatures that ambushed them. They were able to take them out, but they weren’t out of the woods yet. Just then, the Ooze took over their bodies and morphed their bodies into large abominations before facing the trio.

“NoW. LEt’s SEe hOW STRonG yOU REallY ArE…” one of the malformed dragons said as the trio got into fighting stances.