It was quite along trip to Manehatten, using some enhanced speed from Rainbow I was able to get there in 4 days. Rainbow commented as we entered Manehatten (Are you sure we can really hide here, a scruffy looking biped would draw attention from the business ponies?)

I smirked as we darted into a dark alley (You really are sheltered, a city like this will definitely have a dark underbelly.) Before anyone in my mind could comment we found ourselves in a part of the city full of derelict buildings, a pony was pulling a cart with several other ponies in cages as well as few griffons and a single dragon. I saw a griffon down the street was selling some illicit substances.

I frowned as unicorn incarcerated another pony with no horn or wings. Applejack shouted (That Unicorn just killed an Earth Pony! Why would we stay here!)

I grinned (Because those who live here don’t really care about appearances. It’s also where it is easy to make money, after all theft and murder are the lay of the land here. Get used to it.) I saw a pegasus carrying a sword on their back and two saddle bags, they were casually strolling around. I ran over, pulled it out of the scabbard and cut their head off. (Arrogant fool, carelessness gets you killed.) I took their saddlebag, as I strapped their scabbard to my side.

I then ran away, hiding in an alcove. I checked the bag, there was sizeable bag of gold shaped objects. I asked (What are these golden things?)

Applejack answered full of fury (Those were that pony’s bits, and you killed him! How could you do such a horrid thing!)

I growled at her as I put the bag on my back (Do you really think those were all his? A good portion of it probably was stolen, and whatever of it wasn’t was some form of blood money. He was benefiting from slavery, or assassination. Possibly both.) I bolted out of the little alcove, heading for the nearest building. A large crimson stallion carrying an axe marched over, he smirked “Little thing. Hand over the money before I kill you.”

The black mist I used earlier grabbed him, draining the life out of him. I then began to feast on him, he did taste pretty good. I picked his skeleton clean, I stood up only to see many of the residents of the area looked at me with fear. I chuckled to myself as I looked for a place to rest. I grimaced as I looked at the mud covered streets. I growled as I saw the sewage flowing onto the streets where I was walking.

I kicked down one of the doors, my feet trailing mud and sewage into the house. A stallion ran out only for me to cut him in half with the sword. I found the bathroom, I used that to clean my feet and legs in the shower. I took the stallion's key as well as all of the belongings on his person, I then tossed his body out of the window. I entered the bedroom, locked the door and fell asleep.

I looked around my mind to see Apple Bloom playing with her sister, Daybreaker walked over “Forgive my earlier impertinence. I must admit I prefer you than Celestia, you are more vicious and ruthless than her. Able to do what is needed regardless of the cost.”

I frowned “Kindness and mercy do have their place but they are not always viable lessons. After all there is always someone stronger and if you seek to destroy all things they will eventually decide you are a threat. Don’t draw the ire of your betters.” I sighed as I turned to the empty space away from the others “To keep a balanced and functioning world sometimes you need monsters, not just heroes. I am one such monster.”

Daybreaker smirked “I am another, we aren’t too different are we. I am still Celestia, I just lack her restraint. I want the world to be better no matter how many lives I must extinguish.” I hated her logic, I don’t like to hurt people but she wasn’t wrong. I know that ideals without the conviction to do what needs to be done fulfills nothing.

Rainbow glared at me “Your a monsters, you kill without remorse! You show no mercy to your enemies!”

I glared back at her “Grow up, this is the real world Rainbow Dash! Sometimes there are those who can't be stopped with pretty words. You owe the good and innocent protection first, then yourself then those who do wrong. They have chosen to do wrong and sometimes you have take action for those who need protection.” I closed my eyes “Good and evil are relative, is a wolf, or a bear evil for hunting prey. Of course not, they kill for survival.”

Rainbow growled “We live in a society, you don’t need to do that to survive!”

Daybreaker stepped forward “I have watched this nation through Celestia’s eyes for one thousand years. This nation is far from peaceful, it is full or arrogant bigoted ponies. There are quite a few unicorns who wish to return to the days of unicorn supremacy. There are also Pegasi who wish to return to war with the Griffons, than there are the Earth Ponies who wish to leave the lands of Pegasi and Unicorns. To rule themselves without the influence of spellcasting and weather control, they don’t want to support the non Earth Ponies.”

Applejack joined the group, she sighed “Ah can’t deny that after seeing that Earth Pony immolated Ah started having doubts about how effective our leadership is. That such things like this get pushed into the background, ponies forgotten and abandoned by those who should guide us.” She frowned at Daybreaker and I “Ah don’t appreciate violence but Ah can’t deny that all of this is just too much.”

Rainbow looked between the three of us “You are okay with this? More importantly what are we even going to do?”

I frowned “We are going to take over but we will need to gain more power to change this world for the better. We will become the monsters the world needs to make it a better place, are you all with me?”

Daybreaker nodded “I have wanted this for a long time, to fix all of this. This is not the only city with people suffering like this.”

Applejack nodded “Ah will do what needs to be done to prevent atrocities like what I have seen here.”

Rainbow sighed “Well if Applejack is in then so am I. I am not the best at making good judgements, Applejack in the other hand always has it together.” She then nodded “I trust my friend’s judgement.”

Apple Bloom galloped over “Ah am here as well and there is no way that any of ya are leaving me out of this. Ah will help you weather ya like it or not, Ah will not abandon all of ya.”

I smiled at her strength of will “I admire your resolve, it shows great to courage to join in something like this at such a young age.” I stood up, seeing Applejack concerned but unwilling to stand in her sister’s way. I frowned “For now we need to start small, otherwise we will get caught.” We were prepared to change the world, one step at a time. To become the monsters the world needs.

Author's Note

Things will start getting moving slowly but one big event will affect things in a chapter or two.