Mind control.
A simple concept with devastating applications, the Necromancer, the best fighter in the kingdom, knew this very well. He was first shunned for his gifts, then he was fed dreams of grandeur, then promptly slain.
So short. So simple. But he never wanted to do those things. In his youth, he had traveled from town to town in hopes of finding a home, but each time he found one his powers were revealed and he was chased off.
Everyone is dealt a hand in life, a calling that they are good at. His was necromancy, he never asked for it and didn't study it, but he could do it.
Then he happened, a kind man came to him and praised his ability, feeding him dreams of fame and glory. No one had ever donethat before! So like a lost puppy, he followed them.
He doesn't remember the color of his house. He doesn't remember the size. But he still remembers the basement. He still remembers the grin the monster had.
He still remembers the pain. The kind man was no man but a monster. A powerful wizard who had mastered the arcane arts. And he wanted his curse.
When the wizard failed to take it for himself, he mind controlled him. But instead of trying to go around his consciousness, he rammed through it.
But throughout all he did, the real him was still there, aware of his actions. Sometimes he could influence them. Most of the time he couldn't. Whenever he could he tried to limit others' loss.
When the wizard got the crystal it only became harder to resist. The necromancer had strained himself so much he lost chunks of himself.
He couldn't tell you his own name, his hometown, or his best friend's name (though he could tell you it was a cockroach for who would befriend a kid with cursed abilities)
But finally, he was free. Free of the wizard, free of the pain, and free of himself. He would never hurt anyone ever again. Or so he thought…
He didn't account for waking up in a forest. For a while he just sat down, waiting for his body to begin moving. But that monster would no longer influence him.
Standing up he noticed he felt sluggish for he had not controlled his body for many years. And for the first time in years, the Necromancer wept.
He wept for all he had done, he wept for all had seen, he wept for all he couldn't change, and lastly, he wept with pure joy.
He didn't know what god granted him this favor or why. But he would relish it. The first thing he noticed was how different he was.
He had kept his armor, bat wings, and sword, but he had also gained something new. A horn was jutting out of his forehead. “Great now I look like something the painter would make,” he grumbled.
He also noticed he was similar to the king's pony. The noticeable differences being the aforementioned horn and wings.
The first thing he wanted to do was to check if he still had his curse. But oddly enough. He could find no human remains. “Most peculiar” I whispered, humans were known to live and die all over the world. So where was he?
So instead he would try to resurrect a simple pony their skeleton wasn't complete but It would do for now.
Going to do the spell he noticed how effortlessly the magic flowed from him. Normally magic would resist being used but in this body, it responded to his every whim.
The best analogy he could make was he had tried hearing with his hands all his life but now he was given ears. The first was hard but possible, and the second was so easy it was disgusting.
The skull popped out of the ground, but it was attached to a body. Where did the other bones come from? Questions for a later time. He was about to dismiss the skeleton when suddenly
“Impossible!” he exclaimed. For it should be. The skeleton had fur wrapping around it, remaking the skeleton into a living creature again.
“I live to serve” came a monotonous voice. Which scared the necromancer. He knew ponies couldn't talk.
He knew it was a pony because his mast- the monster he self-corrected. had fed him lots of information. Especially about biology, for any necromancer worth his weight must know biology.
He was also scared because the undead can't talk. Was he just that powerful now? Taking a closer look he saw it was a yellow pony with a red mane. They also had an apple tattoo on their flank.
“Where are we?” he asked hoping to get some answers.
“Equestria,” he instinctively raised his eyebrow.
“Where in Equestria?”
“The Everfree forest.”
He then asked a different set of questions: “How did you die?”
“Killed,” that's not very helpful, time to push for more.
“By what?”
“A chimera.”
“A chimera? What's a chimera? I've never heard of them.”
“A chimera is a beast with three heads; a snake, a goat, and a lion.”
“What's with the tattoo?” finally asking that burning question.
If the undead could have looked confused he would have, “A cutie mark appears when a pony discovers their talents.” my heart sank.
After fumbling off his armor, a feat in itself without hands. His fear was confirmed, branded on my flank was an equine skull. Now he could never hide who he was; who he is.
Deciding to take a look at himself he noticed he had black fur with a short mane that seemed to be made of darkness, and he also noticed he was quite tall. “How rare are they?”
“I've never seen an adult pony without one.” great no way to hide it now either.
“What am I?” he asked, beginning to once again hate the gods.
“An alicorn; a being of immense power with the strength of an earth pony, the magic of a unicorn, and the wings of a pegasus,” they explained.
“Where is the nearest town?” he pointed a hoof “Thank you, I relieve you of your service,” letting him wander would help Noone. The first order of business was magic. He knew he could do more with it. So he tried lifting his sword.
The hilt began glowing a hot pink that moved like lightning. He tried to will it to move, but it didn't budge. He quickly grew frustrated and tried again.
This time it shot straight forward with speed to rival a cannonball. It punched completely through a tree and impaled itself hilt-first into the tree behind.
He also realized he had not yet looked around, so taking in his surroundings he saw trees, trees, and… More… trees. Was there anything else? No? Back to the matter at hand, or I guess it's hoof now huh? Back to the matter at hoof.
This time he picked up his sword and it didn't go to the stars, it instead glided through the air. He swung it around for a while making sure he still had his skills before quickly sheathing it.
Time to try something new, he had seen that monster do it many times so he understood the basics.
Picking up a stick he tried to make it disappear and reappear at will. Quickly he mastered it, much faster than he should have. Probably just an alicorn thing.
He quickly willed away his armor and sword, he would rather discard those memories and be gone of any reminders.
But if asked the necromancer would say the gear was of legendary quality and irreplaceable. But secretly he wanted to punish himself for what he had done.
He had ripped kingdoms asunder, torn families apart, and slain without mercy. Others may forgive him, in time. But he would never forgive himself
Next on the list was his wings and mane. He had already decided his horn was too powerful a tool to not have and this way if seen with wings he could say he was testing a spell.
He also noticed the other ponies' mane didn't seem as fluid as his so that too would need to be hidden
So he willed away his wings and mane, they were still there, just hidden. And so he began his marching.
As he traveled he noticed many odd creatures, wolves made of wood, a multi-headed dragon, and a lion with wings and a scorpion tail.
But they all avoided him, every last one. When they saw him they would panic and run like death itself was right behind them.
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Fluttershy’s cabin
Nothing bad had happened yet in Ponyville for a while. Which is exactly why something bad had to happen.
Fluttershy took care of animals big and small. Her cabin is a sanctuary for them. She helped whenever she could.
She knew something was wrong when multiple manticores came by. She had dealt with them before, but never this many at a time.
She doubted this many would come to her for something small, so she asked each one what was wrong. They each have the same answer.
Death itself has made its home in the forest.
Author's Note
im making this because i like castle crashers and had the urge to play it again so updates (if any) are going to be pretty on and off. i think i know where i want to take this story but then again not really.
Somewhere in the Everfree
The necromancer wasn't religious, but he sure as hell would curse god when something goes wrong. He sure as hell was about to right now.
He had been traveling in the direction he was pointed to but he kept seeing the same few trees. So doing something smart for once he grabs his sword and drags it through the dirt to keep him going straight.
Yet somehow he still ended back up at the same tree, at the same creek. The line went perfectly straight yet still somehow looped. It's like the forest didn't want him to leave. Like it was alive.
He hated how fast the sun and moon moved. Which was freaky fast, and then stopped in the center of the sky. Which should be impossible, one of Iskimo Newton’s laws states an object in motion must stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
The sun and moon are very far away so what the actual fuck is stopping and starting them?
The second day he walked all day. Luckily he could eat grass. Sadly grass tastes bad (who would have guessed!)
The third day he woke he felt something was… off. The trees were different, he was moved in his sleep. He knew this because of the HUGE castle in front of him. It was mostly rubble but it would provide shelter.
Marching in he saw banners of the sun and moon everywhere often accompanied by an alicorn. Maybe they worshiped them as deities?
This presented an issue. Would he be worshiped? He didn't deserve that; he deserved to be exiled, to be executed. To be punished.
Then the weirdest decoration he had ever seen in any castle: a set of five rocks. That's it. Just five rocks spaced out on platforms.
What was weird was each rock radiated magic. Powerful magic that physically pained him to be near.
As he walked (trotted?) he felt them push him. He watched as his fur began to smoke; he had never seen something like this. The rocks didn't seem malicious; in fact, they seemed to be the opposite.
They radiated pure serenity. But they didn't like him. It was probably all the things he had done. Or his cursed power. Or was it the wizards lasting corruption? Who knows.
But he had a long time to figure things out so for now he would find a nice rest spot. Kids don't appreciate naps but as an adult, he needs those to do anything. He physically can't function without them.
Looking up he found his spot. No one would find him there. Even if they looked up, his dark coat would hide him. So he looked left, then right, spread his wings, and flew up. Finding a nice spot in the rafters he, despite the uncomfortable wood, fell asleep.
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They were surrounded by corpses.
A masked necromancer laughed maniacally as he slowly dragged his blade across a bound man's body. The man screamed loudly, struggling as he sobbed “Please let me go.”
His screams were ignored, the bound man reached out magically but even the dead, the one thing he could rely on in his life ignored him.
The masked necromancer enjoyed his struggle and slowly removed his mask.
They were almost the same, the only difference being the huge grin on the sword-wielding maniac's face. “They will never forgive you” the once-masked necromancer stated.
The other only continued begging “Please let me go” the bound man cried. “I never wanted to do it! He made me do it! It's not my fault!”
“But you enjoyed it so much didn't you?” the other asked while passing the bound necromancer a sword “You enjoyed hurting those that turned their back on you, you enjoyed bathing your sword in their blood.”
The captured man grabbed the sword and masterfully cut his restraints, he wanted to end this nightmare as fast as he could. He knew it was a nightmare but the pain was very real.
The necromancer didn't know it but his body was rapidly healing cut after cut that appeared out of nothing. Sealing them slowly like they never existed.
He swiftly removed the fake necromancer’s legs and then stabbed him directly in the gut.
He only felt pain, the other necromancer was never there. He felt the blade deep in his own gut. And he relished it, he felt alive, and he loved the pain. No one escapes judgment; he would make sure of it. Starting with himself. But unbeknownst to the necromancer a purple mist was seeping in from the walls.
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He awoke with a gasp. He quickly noticed the room was very different. For one there was an alicorn. It had a black coat, and a malicious aura, and wore dark blue armor. They looked to be a bit shorter than him. But it was hard to tell.
They also were surrounded by the magic rocks. They were all broken. That alicorn was for sure the bad guy.
The second thing was six ponies: two pegasi, two featureless ponies, and two unicorns. They were wearing odd jewelry that radiated the same magic as the rocks. Just ten times as powerful.
Shaking off his grogginess he listened in and immediately regretted it.
The purple unicorn was MONOLOGUING. Villainy 101: don't monologue. If your opponent monologues use it to your advantage. And looking at the alicorn they were trying something.
The alicorn quickly shot off a shot of potent magic. His head was overcome with the screams of the dead, he couldn't think their voices were overpowering. A skeleton half uncovered itself pulling on his magic to raise himself and revealed itself.
It would look like a human skeleton if not for the horns sprouting from its skull. It crossed its arms and tanked the magic blow before staring emotionless ahead.
The alicorn was outraged. The others were shocked, standing still and not moving.
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Magic leaves a trace. This trace can be used to determine who cast which spell.
Nightmare Moon was furious.
Not only was necromancy banned. But that magic trace was familiar. At first, it looked like a unique magic trace like it was supposed to.
But as she dug deeper she saw similarities to another magic trace she knew.
A long time ago, when she went by a different name. There was an empire. Ruled by a tyrant who sought to take over Equestria.
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Twilight didn't know what to do. Necromancy was illegal so who would do such a thing? Also, how was she supposed to think happy thoughts when she was staring at a corpse
Was this some kind of test? Did Celestia do this? Twilight didn't think Celestia would do illegal magic, not even to test her.
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The Necromancer felt the magic drain from the magic necklaces “No no no no no I did something bad didn't I?” he muttered under his breath
He could have chosen a magic shield. He could have redirected the shot; he could have jumped down and blocked it with his shield. But the dead call on him just as much as he calls on them.
And at that moment all the dead were screaming at him to stop it. Stop the magic. With all the dead working together they were able to grab some of his magic to raise one skeleton.
Now he definitely knew the alicorn was evil. The dead don't get that insistent over anything short of the death of a king.
The dead usually shout their voiceless call just to be heard. Even in Volcano Town the dead just wanted to feel again. To be heard.
He could command the dead to do anything, but they can say no. So he needed a dead creature that wanted something he could give them or believed he would give them.
But here they called him for a genuine purpose and stole some of his magic from right under his nose! Sadly the damage was done and no one could fix it now.
The dead reached greedily from the ground holding the alicorn in place and forcefully blocked her magic. He could only hope that the others would use the gems.
The yellow pegasus looked horrified, the blue one was putting on a brave face but looked ready to bolt. The white unicorn almost fainted. The purple unicorn was about to throw up. The pink pony was… why were they smiling?
Oh god please don't say they are like the pink knight. He fears no knight, but that THING, it scares him.
The orange pony seemed almost familiar to him though. Like he knew them somehow. But that is entirely impossible. He's never met this pony in his life.
Slowly they recovered from their shock and slowly he felt the magic begin building in the jewelry again.
The alicorn would have been shouting profanity if not for the skeletons coating her entire body. Her eyes went wide as she watched the ponies begin to float.
Chalk it up to magic and be done with it half his brain shouted. The other kept asking how. Suddenly they shot a huge rainbow. Dear god, he was about to have flashbacks.
He felt the pain of the alicorn. Rainbows should be considered a deadly weapon and banned in every country. It should be a war crime to use one.
He noticed they all passed out so he jumped down to finish the alicorn himself. But instead of the alicorn he expected he saw a smaller alicorn.
One look at them told him it was a she. She had a dark blue coat. She lacked the malicious aura. And she was corrupted.
Whatever that rainbow was, it cleaned up the corruption. But it was trying to crawl back into her.
He would recognize that corruption anywhere. It belonged to the monster.
Author's Note
This might just suck because i wrote this instead of sleeping.
