PonyALT: Black Spectrumby Ultradoom333ChaptersTest MeArrivalButcherDead FlowerBasking in Her BloodNo SecretsTest MeTwilight Sparkle. A bright young mare who lives in the library at the south end of The Eye. We join her now as she climbs the steps of the Castle of The Eye, and following her, a blue mare, her head down and eyes ahead, a chain collar wrapped painfully around her neck and white tag connected to it with black lettering that read "Trixie-28938-Twilght Sparkle". At the top of the steps, she waited. The black queen, Nightmare Moon and behind her stood the "slaved king", Sombra with a silver jeweled chain around his neck. "Twilight Sparkle, my apprentice, I expected you to be here sooner." Twilight and her slave Trixie kneeled on their front hooves and the lavender mare responded, "My slave kept me waiting after she fell down the stairs earlier this morning, I took her to the medical facility and didn't think the procedure take as long as it did". Nightmare glanced coldly at Trixie, looking her over and noticing some small medical wrap around her back left hoof. "Hmf... you should have had the damn thing put down, Twilight", she said, "They are worthless after they are injured". Trixie shuddered quietly, a wimped escaping her lips and a tear forming in her eye. "Quiet!" Twillight yelled back at her before turning and looking back at the queen. "I know, your highness, but I can't spend another week reteaching an entire schedule to another pony". Nightmare nodded, "Yes, I see". She motioned her head toward the giant steel reinforced doors of the castle as gesture to follow her inside. Twilight and Trixie stood up and trotted behind the tall black mare with Sombra walking close to their left. Trixie glanced at the back and red unicorn. A strange aura of melancholy and loneliness flowed off of him, spreading lightly to her. Sombra turned his head to her, completely aware of her gaze, meeting her eyes for a second before silently baring his fangs at her as weak but threatening black mist formed around the horn on his head. Trixie quickly looked away and focused her gaze at the scenery of the throne room they currently walked through. The walls held large stained glass windows that depicted various different events from Equestria's blackened history. One depicted Nightmare Moon herself standing over a the corpse of a white alicorn. A white alicorn... Trixie knew of some key points in history, but that white alicorn... her name was lost in darkness that had befallen this land long ago. Trixie turned her head over to Twilght, her mistress. She wasn't like most ponies in this world, there was a bit good hidden in her heart, and Trixie was grateful to have her a an owner. Twilight and Trixie stopped as Nightmare teleported to the top of her throne and Sombra climbed manually to his own built portion at the side. Trixie, once more letting her gaze fly freely, looked over at the two bat winged royal guards. They looked... unappreciated. Finally Nightmare revealed her reason for Twilight's required presence. "Twilight Sparkle, over the years your skills as a demon mage have progressed smoothly from the day I found you, and I believe you are finally ready for your first legitimmate test". Twilight's eyes brightened with a gleam of joy. "Yes! Anything you ask and I shall succeed, your highness". she nearly shouted before straightening out once more and kneeling back down. Nightmare smiled, "You have one day to pack your things, for you will be relocated to City-04, where there have been reports of the 'White Cult'". Twilight gasped, "Blasphemers!", she said aloud. "Yes, quite... I grant you permission to execute these corrupted ponies after you expose them", Nightmare finished speaking and let Twilight process her quest. The lavender mare thought for moment, I... I have to kill ponies... Finally. Twilight looked up at Nightmare Moon with a smile across her face, "I will succeed or die, your highness." ArrivalThe moon stood at the center of the dark sky surrounded by thousands of stars of varying color. This is the only thing left in the world that brought a smile to Trixie's face, all those stars. She and Twilight now sit quietly in a carriage drawn by two pegasus guards. Trixie glanced over at Twilight who strared deeply into the distance obviously excited to reach City-04 beyond the mountains below so that she may start her test. Twilight felt those eyes upon her and turned toward Trixie only for her to quickly look down at the flooring of the carriage. Twilight used her hoof to lift Trixie's head back up so she could make eye contact once more. "When we reach our new home City-04, I want you to rest that hoof of yours for the rest of the day. I'm going to explore the town". Trixie smiled, "Thank you, mistress Twilight". With a nod and a light smile to her slave, twilight turned to the head of the carriage to see the lights of City-04 growing in the distance. Bright blue lights everywhere. They touched done in the center of town with a rough slam as the carriage struck the cobblestone road beneath them. Twilight fell onto her side upon the floor boards and Trixie slipped out of the carriage completely although she wasn't injured. Twilight climb back onto her hooves and jumped out of the carriage, furiously stomping around to the front to confront the pegasi. "You damned idiots! You could've killed me!", she screamed aloud, her voice echoing throughout the district. "Our apologies, ma'am, we misinterpreted our landing speed". Twilight's eyes and horn began to blacken as she stared down the two pegasi. "That's your excuse?...", she asked in a deathly cold tone. The two pegasi began to wobble slight before one of the passed out completely. "Pl- please-- stop...", the conscious one pleaded before passing out too. Twilight looked down at the two ponies lying nearly lifeless at her hooves. "The false death curse", she muttered, "only a taste of what's to come". She turned over to Trixie who stared gravely at the to unconscious ponies. "Let's go Trixie, now, I'm irritated". Trixie nodded and quickly rushed to the side of her owner. The two mares made their way up the dark streets of City-04, only lit by magic blue lights the fluttered overhead or the illumination magic of other passing unicorns. Trixie took time to take in her surroundings, acknowledging how, anxious everyone and everything looked, as if City-04 was an collective settlement for anxiety and lost hope. Everyone around her walked with a heavily depressed slump, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. Twilight once again turned her head over to Trixie. "I know...", she said. Trixie looked up as Twilight continued, "Disgusting, aren't they, but that's usually what happens in a inbred settlement like City-04". Trixie nodded, but did not agree with her Mistress. These ponies are trapped by overwhelming darkness. They finally came to a stop at the edge of town, in front of a large building. "This is it", Twilight said as she coughed a bit before walking inside with Trixie following closlely, "the library, take our things and go upstairs". Trixie looked don't at her sides, almost forgetting about the saddle bags she had been carrying. After so many years they just seem so, light. "Yes, mistress", she responded quietly as she walked forward and began making her way up the stairs. "Don't unpack anything yet", Twilight called out, "there's a specific way I want everything to be". Trixie looked back at her, "Yes, Mistress". ButcherTwilight casually trotted through town, alone this time, studying the residents of the dank backwater settlement. She avoided eye contact with every pony that passed by; she didn't want to draw any attention to herself. Her natural paranoia forced her to look back every few seconds just to be sure that nopony was following her. This has always been a habit for her, ever since the day her brother snapped. A long time ago when Twilight was just a filly, she and her family were relocated to the massive library at the demand of the Queen so that their precious home could be torn down, and a concentration center built upon it's foundation. Twilight and her parents did not mind, as the library was massive and they all love to sit down and enjoy literature from time to time, however, her brother, Shining Armor was heavily agoraphobic. His sanity slipped away from his feeble grasp every day, bit by bit, until it came to the point that he would hide in closets just to feel safe from the "Spaces", as he called them. Her parents would simply ignore his problem up until the point that he became violent, claiming that the spaces want their souls in exchange for his life. Mr. And Mrs. Sparkle passed it off as a handicap, eventually sending him to the new concentration center. Not long after, he was released back into their home. He was always silent at that point, never speaking, never listening, just existing. A few nights after his return, Mr. Sparkle disappeared mysteriously. No body knew where he went, and if he was dead, no body was found. Soon after that, Twilight discovered her mother mangled on the floor in the master bedroom, her neck broken, a deep gash under her left eye, and the expression of shock forever frozen on her cold lifeless face. Shining was nowhere to be found, and Twilight's only option was to report her mother's death to the royal guard. It was that same day that Nightmare Moon took her in as her apprentice, tailoring her perfectly crafted hatred into the darkest of magic. Twilight broke from her thought's, looking over her shoulder past her flank. Nothing. She sighed and came to a stop as she approached a small deli. "I could use a sandwich", she thought aloud as she trotted inside. The atmosphere was inviting, it felt nice. The lavender unicorn trotted up to the counter where she was met by an older mare with a blue coat and a drooping pink mane. "Hello, my name is Mrs. Cake, what can I get for you, dearie?", she asked kindly. It was strange, with name like that Twilight saw it more fit for her to own a bakery. "One ham sandwich", Twilight replied. Mrs. Cake nodded looking over to her left at a younger mare, whom of which Twilight did not notice until now. She had a slave collar around her neck with a tag that read, Pinkamena-22009-Cup Cake. "One ham sandwich, now!", Mrs. Cake yelled, causing the mare to flinch and quickly sprint into the back to prepare the sandwich. A bit later, Pinkamena, came back out with the meal wrapped in a paper wrapping. Twilight sat down at one of the tables with in the deli to enjoy her meal. About half way through her sandwich, she began to get the insatiable feeling eyes watching her. Looking up, she caught the pink mare glancing at her every now and then. "Dearie!", Mrs. Cake called out. Twilight's attention was redirected at her when she spoke. "I'm going to be closing up in five". With that being said, the pink mare trotted into the back again. Twilight nodded and finished her sandwich. Half way home, the light orbs in the sky have died, indicating that active night hours have expired and that ponies should be indoors at this time. Twilight glanced behind her, just like earlier. The fact that it was dark didn't make it any better. The only light she had as of right now was the light coming from her horn. Twilight looked down at the cobblestone road for bait as she walked. *clop*. Twilight looked back up, she had heard something. She stopped dead in her tracks, looking around. *clop*. Somepony else is here with her. They've been following her. *silence*. Twilight felt the tension rising, she began to panic on the inside. *slice!* Twilight shriek at a sudden flash of pain on her left flank. She turned quickly and came face to face with the slave mare from earlier. "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!", she screamed. As she attempted to stab Twilight with a deli knife. Twilight acted quickly, backing away from the mare and using her telekinetic magic to on her legs, shattering the bones within them. "AAAAAHHHH!!", she cryed as she fell to the hard pavement. She writhed in agonizing pain whilst chanting, no, screaming the phrase, 'The white angel shall deliver us!'. With this, Twilight levetated the dropped deli knife and quickly drove it into the insane mare's skull. Twilight plopped down on the road, slightly exhausted and her nerves totally racked. She watched a steady puddle of crimson form around the still twitching mare's head. Drops of transparent liquid began to fall upon her. Twilight looked up at the forming clouds overhead. "The queen must've scheduled some rain". Dead FlowerShe was assaulted. Her paranoia at an all time high. No one can be trusted. They are all blasphemers. No, she thought, I just need to be more careful. Twilight sat upon a pillow in the middle of the floor of the library, studying the City-04 residential address book. She was constantly looking behind and over her flank making sure that nopony stood there, like she did. She... The locals found her corpse in the streets today, a third of her blood spilled across the ground. Apparently her heart was still beating for about an hour after the knife impaled her brain. She was still alive..., Twilight thought to herself. "Dammit, Twi", she continued aloud, "if I'm going to kill someone I need to do it right!" Trixie listened to her mistress's half insane rambling as she sorted and dusted various books. Twilight was always like this when she was scared of something... or somepony, and Trixie didn't like to see her in a state of distress like this, but she was only a slave, she had no say over her mistress. Trixie continued to sort through the various books until her eyes set sight upon one specific book entitled 'The History of the Darkening Hour'. Her eyes widened, for the darkening hour is tonight. Everypony is required... wait... that event is only held within the The Eye... Trixie felt that she must be getting just as paranoid as her mistress. She slipped the book into the shelf, making sure that it fell into alphabetical order along with the rest of them. Twilight yawned a bit before closing her book and getting up off of her pillow. She stretch her body, feeling a lot calmer than she was earlier. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Twilight was extremely hesitant to answer it, due to the events of last night, but even with the permission of the queen to carry out these 'death sentences', she didn't want anypony to get suspicious. From a distance, she used her magic to open the door, but nopony was there. She crept toward the blackness of night, an offensive spell at the ready, only to find... what was this? On the door step lay a small object. A thin green tube with little barbs and a large red bulb at the top. *clop*. Twilight turned quickly to see a figure run off into the blackness of the Darkening Hour, the night in which no light shines above. Twilight didn't think twice, she galloped after the strange figure. Trixie watched her mistress sprint off into the black abyss that was the night outside. She sighed. "By the moon, please don't let death befall her tonight. She closed the door and continued to sort the books "Stop!", Twilight called out as she continued to pursue the figure. They turned a corner leading out of town toward the forest. They both ran in, Twilight following close until the figure made a turn losing the purple unicorn. Twilight tried not to panic she looked around in every direction carefully for a way out since she could no longer chase... whatever that was. She kept making slow, but fearful one eighty turns until she set sight upon a light source far of in the distance. "Light?", she asked aloud, "is there a house out here?" She thought only once and that was to go for it. She galloped toward the light, moving closer an closer until she realized just how bright it was that it was able to blind her as she entered. She opened her eyes up only to behold the sight of hundreds of these... colored bulbs, illuminated by golden glowing fungi. "Hi.." Twilight turned to the left to find a yellow mare with a pink mane. Her coat and mane were messy as could be and littered with twigs. "What is this?", Twilight asked. "who are you?" The yellow mare sat silent for a bit before finally responding, "This is my garden... and I have forgotten my name." Obviously she was some kind of crazy recluse. "What is this?", Twilight asked as she held up the object she had found earlier. "That's a rose", she said with a smile. Her smile grew and she stood up in an almost proud fashion. "The angel took them away along time ago", Twilight froze up. What did she just say? The yellow mare continued, "but then she came to me gave me the light and told me to grow as many roses and and other flowers as I could, and spread then to others!" Twilight was completely stunned. She must be one of them, but she was so innocent... oh, well. Twilight's horn heated up as a stream of black shot from it, hitting the mare in the side of the head, obliterating that side completely. Twilight then used the same spell to destroy the flowers and light around her. *thump*. Twilight's ears perked up. *thump*thump*thump*thump*. It's raining again. Basking in Her BloodThe Eye. The center of the city that watches. The castle where the black queen resides. Sobbed watches and wait for the command of his mistress, always ready at ever second, every day, eternal. She does not move from her throne often, she always watches from it, watches everything, but when she does move, something is wrong. Tonight... Something is very wrong. None know of what the queen fears, but Sombra does, and it is that of which of equal power and can steal her throne. The other queen, the changeling Crysalis. Rumors circulate quickly, and The Eye may watch, but it also listens. The insect is here, hiding amongst them, stalking her prize. Sombra, the slaved king, watches his queen pace the throne room of the castle, ignoring her guards, ignoring whatever work must be done as queen of Equestria. She screams in psychotic fits when a maid or guard tries to calm or reassure her that all is well. They imprisoned for a month. Sombra knows not to talk, especially when Nightmare is like this. He can only wait for her to command him. He sits, looking down at the collar the restricts his once powerful, mind torturing magic. He does miss it, but that power has been gone for a thousand years. Thousand... It is because of her that he is ageless. He was defeated, down at her hooves, and offer, die or live forever as her personal servant. Sombra was no dark-martyr, he chose life. His only regret, is the loss of so much power. He still waits. Her command is imminent. "Sombra!", she shouts. The unicorn rushed to his queen's side, kneeling before her, awaiting her command. She spoke in frantic whispers, "I don't trust the guards, investigate the castle, kill antpony who exhibits unusual behavior!" Sombra nodded once and turned quickly trotting off into the darkness of the castles, using what ever unrestricted magic he had to light his way. He turned a corner, off into the dark halls, slowly now, observing his suroundings. The hall her none but brick and blackness, no decoration, the queen hated decoration, she much preferred the intimidating feeling of cold, brick corridors. Sombra respected that. A maid walked by him casually using her own horn to cast an orange glow around her self so that she could see throughout the castle halls. She did not move unusually, she did not speak, she did not look at him, she was not changeling. He continued this.. 'chore', of his untill he was sure that he had inspected everypony in the castle. All was fine. He returned to the throne room to find the queen much calmer than before. She seemed delighted to see him. "Sombra...", she said almost seductively, "come here". Sombra obeyed his queen, but not before taking note of the absence of the guards, where were they? Sombra reached his spot near the top of the throne next to Nightmare Moon. "Sombra, come closer", she half whispered. This was unusual. This was not the queen he knew. "A thousand years, Sombra...", moaned as she leaned toward him. No. This is not the queen. He lit his horn up in a bright demonic red and bared his teeth at the imposter. "Where is she?...", he asked coldly. The fake queen was not phased by his actions. "She was easy to over throw, Sombra, some queen... Equestria does not need a queen like that. What has she done for her people? What has she done for you? I know what I'd do for you.", she smiled, running her tounge across the edge of her lips. "No", was all that escaped Sombra's mouth. The imposter was now agitated, she looked angrily into his eyes. She gave up trying to seduce him, and shot a bolt of black energy straight into his face. He slid across the floor, bashing into the wall on the west side of the throne room. He heard a crack. He smiled. He stood back up on his feet, glaring at the irritated female. "I thought you had the queen's power now", he chuckled. She did not hesitate to blast him again, sending him flying against the wall this time, shattering two of the many stained glass windows. Another crack was heard. Now was his chance. While on the floor, Sombra focused all of his magic energy on the slave chain around his neck, working his way through the cracks. *crack!!!*. A massive black aura surrounded him. He stood tall for the first time in a thousand years! He dimly gazed at the false queen, who now shuddered in fear, as her form reverted, reveal the changeling queen, Crysalis. "HAHAHAHA!!", Sombra laughed, "you look as pathetic as the millions of slaves I once owned, now where is the queen?" Crysalis straightened up and attempted to fire a magic bolt at him. Sombra shook his head. He levitated her into the air as she screamed and flailed, "Where is she?", he asked. She remained silent and stern. He removed her hide legs, ripping and tearing with his telekinesis until only stubs were left in their place. "AAAAHHHH!!!!", she screamed. "Where is the queen?", Sombra asked again. "Un..und-r...un", chrysalis stuttered. He tore off her fore legs. She screamed once more, "CAVERNS!!!! UNDER!!!! CASTLE!!!!", before, due to the trauma and destruction of her nerves, deficating on the floor. Disgusted, Sombra simply dropped the limbless bitch, straight down into her own filth. He the looked down, and easily separated the floor with his magic, destroying it even, telekinetically borrowing a massive hole into the caverns below. He dropped down, landing between two massive crystals. Crystals... No. No time. His search did not last long as he found Nightmare, slumped down in a crevice, rambling insanely to herself. A high level insanity spell. Chrysalis must've practiced years before attempting this. Sombra took a second glance at her. She's powerless, he could easily take over Equestria, regain his empire, re-enslave billions. A third glance... And he realized he was broken. He could not take from his queen. His horn lit up in a soft blue, as did Nightmare. She convulsed for a bit before regaining her senses and looking up at her savior. "Sombra...", she said. She looked down at the absent slave collar that previously consealed his power. She ran her hooves along his neck and spoke, "You I cannot allow this, Sombra". He nodded and kneeled before his queen. When they returned to the surface, the changeling bitch had fled. No SecretsThe news of the changeling queen circulated quickly. Though Twilight need not worry, for the bug had been defeated, she held to her paranoia, always watching her back, always ready. The rain was light upon the roof of her library, and both mares of the resident, Twilight and Trixie, grew far more aware of the sky's tears, gradually getting stronger and stronger. Twilight spent the hour studying the names of local ponies and their businesses through an address book she had discovered the night before the incident at the castle. There was Cake's Deli owned by the widow, Cup Cake, the Sweet Apple Packaging Plant owned by the Apple family, the City-04 Jeweler-- As Twilight's eyes scanned over the pages of the rather small address book, a loud thump sounded off in front of her and she glanced forward, peering at the wooded door that, once more, echoed the previous sound of hooves upon wood. Twilight stood up with defensive magic at the ready and she commanded Trixie to open the door. The blue slave mare trotted slowly over to the door and, using her left hoof, opened it gently, revealing a sight that was common within The Eye. A white unicorn quickly rushed in from the light rain, the light on her horn fading as she no longer needed it within the already lit library. She was followed by two more mares who were earth ponies... slaves. The first slave had a beautiful light cerulean coat and a well kept pale rose mane. Her chain collar was adorned in various fine gems and had a tag that read, Lotus-90012-Rarity Belle. The second slave was just as gorgeous and she seemed to be an exact copy of her apparent twin, although the color of her coat and mane were reverses. Her collar was, as well, adorned in many bright beaming jewels and her tag read Aloe-90011-Rarity Belle. It seemed that their owner, this Rarity unicorn that approached Twilight, has subjected these two to beauty treatment. But, why? Trixie wondered. They were just slaves after all. Trixie closed the door and watched quietly as Rarity and her master conversed. "Good night, darling! My name is Rarity Belle, the jeweler". Twilight looked over the unicorn before responding in a half monotone voice, "Umm, hi... I'm Twilight Sparkle". Rarity smiled and brought her voice down to a whisper. "I know what the queen has tasked you with... and I can help", she said as she brought her head closer to Twilight. The purple mare looked up at the white unicorn, offensive magic readied. She laughed, Rarity did. "Come now, darling, is that any way to treat a guest?", she narrowed her eyes at Twilight in a deep stare, "a guest who holds City-04's secrets". "Okay then 'Rarity'", twilight said coarsely, still having her magic readied, "how do I know your not one of them?". Rarity frowned, "I'm am one of the queen's informants", she said, "I'm not supposed to work directly with you, but recently after the queen was attacked by the changeling bitch, she requested that I assist you in your, 'test'". Twilight calmed down, disabling her magic and apologizing to her. "My apologies, Rarity. What can you tell me?" Rarity looked up at her, grinning devilishly. "The lyre player and the confectioner", she said. Twilight smiled just as she did and asked another question, "Where can I find them?" "They own a quaint little candy store together".
Test MeTwilight Sparkle. A bright young mare who lives in the library at the south end of The Eye. We join her now as she climbs the steps of the Castle of The Eye, and following her, a blue mare, her head down and eyes ahead, a chain collar wrapped painfully around her neck and white tag connected to it with black lettering that read "Trixie-28938-Twilght Sparkle". At the top of the steps, she waited. The black queen, Nightmare Moon and behind her stood the "slaved king", Sombra with a silver jeweled chain around his neck. "Twilight Sparkle, my apprentice, I expected you to be here sooner." Twilight and her slave Trixie kneeled on their front hooves and the lavender mare responded, "My slave kept me waiting after she fell down the stairs earlier this morning, I took her to the medical facility and didn't think the procedure take as long as it did". Nightmare glanced coldly at Trixie, looking her over and noticing some small medical wrap around her back left hoof. "Hmf... you should have had the damn thing put down, Twilight", she said, "They are worthless after they are injured". Trixie shuddered quietly, a wimped escaping her lips and a tear forming in her eye. "Quiet!" Twillight yelled back at her before turning and looking back at the queen. "I know, your highness, but I can't spend another week reteaching an entire schedule to another pony". Nightmare nodded, "Yes, I see". She motioned her head toward the giant steel reinforced doors of the castle as gesture to follow her inside. Twilight and Trixie stood up and trotted behind the tall black mare with Sombra walking close to their left. Trixie glanced at the back and red unicorn. A strange aura of melancholy and loneliness flowed off of him, spreading lightly to her. Sombra turned his head to her, completely aware of her gaze, meeting her eyes for a second before silently baring his fangs at her as weak but threatening black mist formed around the horn on his head. Trixie quickly looked away and focused her gaze at the scenery of the throne room they currently walked through. The walls held large stained glass windows that depicted various different events from Equestria's blackened history. One depicted Nightmare Moon herself standing over a the corpse of a white alicorn. A white alicorn... Trixie knew of some key points in history, but that white alicorn... her name was lost in darkness that had befallen this land long ago. Trixie turned her head over to Twilght, her mistress. She wasn't like most ponies in this world, there was a bit good hidden in her heart, and Trixie was grateful to have her a an owner. Twilight and Trixie stopped as Nightmare teleported to the top of her throne and Sombra climbed manually to his own built portion at the side. Trixie, once more letting her gaze fly freely, looked over at the two bat winged royal guards. They looked... unappreciated. Finally Nightmare revealed her reason for Twilight's required presence. "Twilight Sparkle, over the years your skills as a demon mage have progressed smoothly from the day I found you, and I believe you are finally ready for your first legitimmate test". Twilight's eyes brightened with a gleam of joy. "Yes! Anything you ask and I shall succeed, your highness". she nearly shouted before straightening out once more and kneeling back down. Nightmare smiled, "You have one day to pack your things, for you will be relocated to City-04, where there have been reports of the 'White Cult'". Twilight gasped, "Blasphemers!", she said aloud. "Yes, quite... I grant you permission to execute these corrupted ponies after you expose them", Nightmare finished speaking and let Twilight process her quest. The lavender mare thought for moment, I... I have to kill ponies... Finally. Twilight looked up at Nightmare Moon with a smile across her face, "I will succeed or die, your highness."
ArrivalThe moon stood at the center of the dark sky surrounded by thousands of stars of varying color. This is the only thing left in the world that brought a smile to Trixie's face, all those stars. She and Twilight now sit quietly in a carriage drawn by two pegasus guards. Trixie glanced over at Twilight who strared deeply into the distance obviously excited to reach City-04 beyond the mountains below so that she may start her test. Twilight felt those eyes upon her and turned toward Trixie only for her to quickly look down at the flooring of the carriage. Twilight used her hoof to lift Trixie's head back up so she could make eye contact once more. "When we reach our new home City-04, I want you to rest that hoof of yours for the rest of the day. I'm going to explore the town". Trixie smiled, "Thank you, mistress Twilight". With a nod and a light smile to her slave, twilight turned to the head of the carriage to see the lights of City-04 growing in the distance. Bright blue lights everywhere. They touched done in the center of town with a rough slam as the carriage struck the cobblestone road beneath them. Twilight fell onto her side upon the floor boards and Trixie slipped out of the carriage completely although she wasn't injured. Twilight climb back onto her hooves and jumped out of the carriage, furiously stomping around to the front to confront the pegasi. "You damned idiots! You could've killed me!", she screamed aloud, her voice echoing throughout the district. "Our apologies, ma'am, we misinterpreted our landing speed". Twilight's eyes and horn began to blacken as she stared down the two pegasi. "That's your excuse?...", she asked in a deathly cold tone. The two pegasi began to wobble slight before one of the passed out completely. "Pl- please-- stop...", the conscious one pleaded before passing out too. Twilight looked down at the two ponies lying nearly lifeless at her hooves. "The false death curse", she muttered, "only a taste of what's to come". She turned over to Trixie who stared gravely at the to unconscious ponies. "Let's go Trixie, now, I'm irritated". Trixie nodded and quickly rushed to the side of her owner. The two mares made their way up the dark streets of City-04, only lit by magic blue lights the fluttered overhead or the illumination magic of other passing unicorns. Trixie took time to take in her surroundings, acknowledging how, anxious everyone and everything looked, as if City-04 was an collective settlement for anxiety and lost hope. Everyone around her walked with a heavily depressed slump, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. Twilight once again turned her head over to Trixie. "I know...", she said. Trixie looked up as Twilight continued, "Disgusting, aren't they, but that's usually what happens in a inbred settlement like City-04". Trixie nodded, but did not agree with her Mistress. These ponies are trapped by overwhelming darkness. They finally came to a stop at the edge of town, in front of a large building. "This is it", Twilight said as she coughed a bit before walking inside with Trixie following closlely, "the library, take our things and go upstairs". Trixie looked don't at her sides, almost forgetting about the saddle bags she had been carrying. After so many years they just seem so, light. "Yes, mistress", she responded quietly as she walked forward and began making her way up the stairs. "Don't unpack anything yet", Twilight called out, "there's a specific way I want everything to be". Trixie looked back at her, "Yes, Mistress".
ButcherTwilight casually trotted through town, alone this time, studying the residents of the dank backwater settlement. She avoided eye contact with every pony that passed by; she didn't want to draw any attention to herself. Her natural paranoia forced her to look back every few seconds just to be sure that nopony was following her. This has always been a habit for her, ever since the day her brother snapped. A long time ago when Twilight was just a filly, she and her family were relocated to the massive library at the demand of the Queen so that their precious home could be torn down, and a concentration center built upon it's foundation. Twilight and her parents did not mind, as the library was massive and they all love to sit down and enjoy literature from time to time, however, her brother, Shining Armor was heavily agoraphobic. His sanity slipped away from his feeble grasp every day, bit by bit, until it came to the point that he would hide in closets just to feel safe from the "Spaces", as he called them. Her parents would simply ignore his problem up until the point that he became violent, claiming that the spaces want their souls in exchange for his life. Mr. And Mrs. Sparkle passed it off as a handicap, eventually sending him to the new concentration center. Not long after, he was released back into their home. He was always silent at that point, never speaking, never listening, just existing. A few nights after his return, Mr. Sparkle disappeared mysteriously. No body knew where he went, and if he was dead, no body was found. Soon after that, Twilight discovered her mother mangled on the floor in the master bedroom, her neck broken, a deep gash under her left eye, and the expression of shock forever frozen on her cold lifeless face. Shining was nowhere to be found, and Twilight's only option was to report her mother's death to the royal guard. It was that same day that Nightmare Moon took her in as her apprentice, tailoring her perfectly crafted hatred into the darkest of magic. Twilight broke from her thought's, looking over her shoulder past her flank. Nothing. She sighed and came to a stop as she approached a small deli. "I could use a sandwich", she thought aloud as she trotted inside. The atmosphere was inviting, it felt nice. The lavender unicorn trotted up to the counter where she was met by an older mare with a blue coat and a drooping pink mane. "Hello, my name is Mrs. Cake, what can I get for you, dearie?", she asked kindly. It was strange, with name like that Twilight saw it more fit for her to own a bakery. "One ham sandwich", Twilight replied. Mrs. Cake nodded looking over to her left at a younger mare, whom of which Twilight did not notice until now. She had a slave collar around her neck with a tag that read, Pinkamena-22009-Cup Cake. "One ham sandwich, now!", Mrs. Cake yelled, causing the mare to flinch and quickly sprint into the back to prepare the sandwich. A bit later, Pinkamena, came back out with the meal wrapped in a paper wrapping. Twilight sat down at one of the tables with in the deli to enjoy her meal. About half way through her sandwich, she began to get the insatiable feeling eyes watching her. Looking up, she caught the pink mare glancing at her every now and then. "Dearie!", Mrs. Cake called out. Twilight's attention was redirected at her when she spoke. "I'm going to be closing up in five". With that being said, the pink mare trotted into the back again. Twilight nodded and finished her sandwich. Half way home, the light orbs in the sky have died, indicating that active night hours have expired and that ponies should be indoors at this time. Twilight glanced behind her, just like earlier. The fact that it was dark didn't make it any better. The only light she had as of right now was the light coming from her horn. Twilight looked down at the cobblestone road for bait as she walked. *clop*. Twilight looked back up, she had heard something. She stopped dead in her tracks, looking around. *clop*. Somepony else is here with her. They've been following her. *silence*. Twilight felt the tension rising, she began to panic on the inside. *slice!* Twilight shriek at a sudden flash of pain on her left flank. She turned quickly and came face to face with the slave mare from earlier. "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!", she screamed. As she attempted to stab Twilight with a deli knife. Twilight acted quickly, backing away from the mare and using her telekinetic magic to on her legs, shattering the bones within them. "AAAAAHHHH!!", she cryed as she fell to the hard pavement. She writhed in agonizing pain whilst chanting, no, screaming the phrase, 'The white angel shall deliver us!'. With this, Twilight levetated the dropped deli knife and quickly drove it into the insane mare's skull. Twilight plopped down on the road, slightly exhausted and her nerves totally racked. She watched a steady puddle of crimson form around the still twitching mare's head. Drops of transparent liquid began to fall upon her. Twilight looked up at the forming clouds overhead. "The queen must've scheduled some rain".
Dead FlowerShe was assaulted. Her paranoia at an all time high. No one can be trusted. They are all blasphemers. No, she thought, I just need to be more careful. Twilight sat upon a pillow in the middle of the floor of the library, studying the City-04 residential address book. She was constantly looking behind and over her flank making sure that nopony stood there, like she did. She... The locals found her corpse in the streets today, a third of her blood spilled across the ground. Apparently her heart was still beating for about an hour after the knife impaled her brain. She was still alive..., Twilight thought to herself. "Dammit, Twi", she continued aloud, "if I'm going to kill someone I need to do it right!" Trixie listened to her mistress's half insane rambling as she sorted and dusted various books. Twilight was always like this when she was scared of something... or somepony, and Trixie didn't like to see her in a state of distress like this, but she was only a slave, she had no say over her mistress. Trixie continued to sort through the various books until her eyes set sight upon one specific book entitled 'The History of the Darkening Hour'. Her eyes widened, for the darkening hour is tonight. Everypony is required... wait... that event is only held within the The Eye... Trixie felt that she must be getting just as paranoid as her mistress. She slipped the book into the shelf, making sure that it fell into alphabetical order along with the rest of them. Twilight yawned a bit before closing her book and getting up off of her pillow. She stretch her body, feeling a lot calmer than she was earlier. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Twilight was extremely hesitant to answer it, due to the events of last night, but even with the permission of the queen to carry out these 'death sentences', she didn't want anypony to get suspicious. From a distance, she used her magic to open the door, but nopony was there. She crept toward the blackness of night, an offensive spell at the ready, only to find... what was this? On the door step lay a small object. A thin green tube with little barbs and a large red bulb at the top. *clop*. Twilight turned quickly to see a figure run off into the blackness of the Darkening Hour, the night in which no light shines above. Twilight didn't think twice, she galloped after the strange figure. Trixie watched her mistress sprint off into the black abyss that was the night outside. She sighed. "By the moon, please don't let death befall her tonight. She closed the door and continued to sort the books "Stop!", Twilight called out as she continued to pursue the figure. They turned a corner leading out of town toward the forest. They both ran in, Twilight following close until the figure made a turn losing the purple unicorn. Twilight tried not to panic she looked around in every direction carefully for a way out since she could no longer chase... whatever that was. She kept making slow, but fearful one eighty turns until she set sight upon a light source far of in the distance. "Light?", she asked aloud, "is there a house out here?" She thought only once and that was to go for it. She galloped toward the light, moving closer an closer until she realized just how bright it was that it was able to blind her as she entered. She opened her eyes up only to behold the sight of hundreds of these... colored bulbs, illuminated by golden glowing fungi. "Hi.." Twilight turned to the left to find a yellow mare with a pink mane. Her coat and mane were messy as could be and littered with twigs. "What is this?", Twilight asked. "who are you?" The yellow mare sat silent for a bit before finally responding, "This is my garden... and I have forgotten my name." Obviously she was some kind of crazy recluse. "What is this?", Twilight asked as she held up the object she had found earlier. "That's a rose", she said with a smile. Her smile grew and she stood up in an almost proud fashion. "The angel took them away along time ago", Twilight froze up. What did she just say? The yellow mare continued, "but then she came to me gave me the light and told me to grow as many roses and and other flowers as I could, and spread then to others!" Twilight was completely stunned. She must be one of them, but she was so innocent... oh, well. Twilight's horn heated up as a stream of black shot from it, hitting the mare in the side of the head, obliterating that side completely. Twilight then used the same spell to destroy the flowers and light around her. *thump*. Twilight's ears perked up. *thump*thump*thump*thump*. It's raining again.
Basking in Her BloodThe Eye. The center of the city that watches. The castle where the black queen resides. Sobbed watches and wait for the command of his mistress, always ready at ever second, every day, eternal. She does not move from her throne often, she always watches from it, watches everything, but when she does move, something is wrong. Tonight... Something is very wrong. None know of what the queen fears, but Sombra does, and it is that of which of equal power and can steal her throne. The other queen, the changeling Crysalis. Rumors circulate quickly, and The Eye may watch, but it also listens. The insect is here, hiding amongst them, stalking her prize. Sombra, the slaved king, watches his queen pace the throne room of the castle, ignoring her guards, ignoring whatever work must be done as queen of Equestria. She screams in psychotic fits when a maid or guard tries to calm or reassure her that all is well. They imprisoned for a month. Sombra knows not to talk, especially when Nightmare is like this. He can only wait for her to command him. He sits, looking down at the collar the restricts his once powerful, mind torturing magic. He does miss it, but that power has been gone for a thousand years. Thousand... It is because of her that he is ageless. He was defeated, down at her hooves, and offer, die or live forever as her personal servant. Sombra was no dark-martyr, he chose life. His only regret, is the loss of so much power. He still waits. Her command is imminent. "Sombra!", she shouts. The unicorn rushed to his queen's side, kneeling before her, awaiting her command. She spoke in frantic whispers, "I don't trust the guards, investigate the castle, kill antpony who exhibits unusual behavior!" Sombra nodded once and turned quickly trotting off into the darkness of the castles, using what ever unrestricted magic he had to light his way. He turned a corner, off into the dark halls, slowly now, observing his suroundings. The hall her none but brick and blackness, no decoration, the queen hated decoration, she much preferred the intimidating feeling of cold, brick corridors. Sombra respected that. A maid walked by him casually using her own horn to cast an orange glow around her self so that she could see throughout the castle halls. She did not move unusually, she did not speak, she did not look at him, she was not changeling. He continued this.. 'chore', of his untill he was sure that he had inspected everypony in the castle. All was fine. He returned to the throne room to find the queen much calmer than before. She seemed delighted to see him. "Sombra...", she said almost seductively, "come here". Sombra obeyed his queen, but not before taking note of the absence of the guards, where were they? Sombra reached his spot near the top of the throne next to Nightmare Moon. "Sombra, come closer", she half whispered. This was unusual. This was not the queen he knew. "A thousand years, Sombra...", moaned as she leaned toward him. No. This is not the queen. He lit his horn up in a bright demonic red and bared his teeth at the imposter. "Where is she?...", he asked coldly. The fake queen was not phased by his actions. "She was easy to over throw, Sombra, some queen... Equestria does not need a queen like that. What has she done for her people? What has she done for you? I know what I'd do for you.", she smiled, running her tounge across the edge of her lips. "No", was all that escaped Sombra's mouth. The imposter was now agitated, she looked angrily into his eyes. She gave up trying to seduce him, and shot a bolt of black energy straight into his face. He slid across the floor, bashing into the wall on the west side of the throne room. He heard a crack. He smiled. He stood back up on his feet, glaring at the irritated female. "I thought you had the queen's power now", he chuckled. She did not hesitate to blast him again, sending him flying against the wall this time, shattering two of the many stained glass windows. Another crack was heard. Now was his chance. While on the floor, Sombra focused all of his magic energy on the slave chain around his neck, working his way through the cracks. *crack!!!*. A massive black aura surrounded him. He stood tall for the first time in a thousand years! He dimly gazed at the false queen, who now shuddered in fear, as her form reverted, reveal the changeling queen, Crysalis. "HAHAHAHA!!", Sombra laughed, "you look as pathetic as the millions of slaves I once owned, now where is the queen?" Crysalis straightened up and attempted to fire a magic bolt at him. Sombra shook his head. He levitated her into the air as she screamed and flailed, "Where is she?", he asked. She remained silent and stern. He removed her hide legs, ripping and tearing with his telekinesis until only stubs were left in their place. "AAAAHHHH!!!!", she screamed. "Where is the queen?", Sombra asked again. "Un..und-r...un", chrysalis stuttered. He tore off her fore legs. She screamed once more, "CAVERNS!!!! UNDER!!!! CASTLE!!!!", before, due to the trauma and destruction of her nerves, deficating on the floor. Disgusted, Sombra simply dropped the limbless bitch, straight down into her own filth. He the looked down, and easily separated the floor with his magic, destroying it even, telekinetically borrowing a massive hole into the caverns below. He dropped down, landing between two massive crystals. Crystals... No. No time. His search did not last long as he found Nightmare, slumped down in a crevice, rambling insanely to herself. A high level insanity spell. Chrysalis must've practiced years before attempting this. Sombra took a second glance at her. She's powerless, he could easily take over Equestria, regain his empire, re-enslave billions. A third glance... And he realized he was broken. He could not take from his queen. His horn lit up in a soft blue, as did Nightmare. She convulsed for a bit before regaining her senses and looking up at her savior. "Sombra...", she said. She looked down at the absent slave collar that previously consealed his power. She ran her hooves along his neck and spoke, "You I cannot allow this, Sombra". He nodded and kneeled before his queen. When they returned to the surface, the changeling bitch had fled.
No SecretsThe news of the changeling queen circulated quickly. Though Twilight need not worry, for the bug had been defeated, she held to her paranoia, always watching her back, always ready. The rain was light upon the roof of her library, and both mares of the resident, Twilight and Trixie, grew far more aware of the sky's tears, gradually getting stronger and stronger. Twilight spent the hour studying the names of local ponies and their businesses through an address book she had discovered the night before the incident at the castle. There was Cake's Deli owned by the widow, Cup Cake, the Sweet Apple Packaging Plant owned by the Apple family, the City-04 Jeweler-- As Twilight's eyes scanned over the pages of the rather small address book, a loud thump sounded off in front of her and she glanced forward, peering at the wooded door that, once more, echoed the previous sound of hooves upon wood. Twilight stood up with defensive magic at the ready and she commanded Trixie to open the door. The blue slave mare trotted slowly over to the door and, using her left hoof, opened it gently, revealing a sight that was common within The Eye. A white unicorn quickly rushed in from the light rain, the light on her horn fading as she no longer needed it within the already lit library. She was followed by two more mares who were earth ponies... slaves. The first slave had a beautiful light cerulean coat and a well kept pale rose mane. Her chain collar was adorned in various fine gems and had a tag that read, Lotus-90012-Rarity Belle. The second slave was just as gorgeous and she seemed to be an exact copy of her apparent twin, although the color of her coat and mane were reverses. Her collar was, as well, adorned in many bright beaming jewels and her tag read Aloe-90011-Rarity Belle. It seemed that their owner, this Rarity unicorn that approached Twilight, has subjected these two to beauty treatment. But, why? Trixie wondered. They were just slaves after all. Trixie closed the door and watched quietly as Rarity and her master conversed. "Good night, darling! My name is Rarity Belle, the jeweler". Twilight looked over the unicorn before responding in a half monotone voice, "Umm, hi... I'm Twilight Sparkle". Rarity smiled and brought her voice down to a whisper. "I know what the queen has tasked you with... and I can help", she said as she brought her head closer to Twilight. The purple mare looked up at the white unicorn, offensive magic readied. She laughed, Rarity did. "Come now, darling, is that any way to treat a guest?", she narrowed her eyes at Twilight in a deep stare, "a guest who holds City-04's secrets". "Okay then 'Rarity'", twilight said coarsely, still having her magic readied, "how do I know your not one of them?". Rarity frowned, "I'm am one of the queen's informants", she said, "I'm not supposed to work directly with you, but recently after the queen was attacked by the changeling bitch, she requested that I assist you in your, 'test'". Twilight calmed down, disabling her magic and apologizing to her. "My apologies, Rarity. What can you tell me?" Rarity looked up at her, grinning devilishly. "The lyre player and the confectioner", she said. Twilight smiled just as she did and asked another question, "Where can I find them?" "They own a quaint little candy store together".
