Deals of the Devil

by Akailo

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Dark
Length: 14797

The Elements of Harmony, an old and strong force. How will they hold up against evil incarnate

The Elements of Harmony are a great force for good in the world of Equestira, but what happens when the embodyment of evil and chaos takes an intrest?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-05-23 15:35:38 UTC

Skys Above

Deals of the Devil: Skies above

Ponyville, a peaceful little hamlet located just outside the Everfree Forest. Considering it was so close to a place of chaos and danger nothing of interest happened in the small town.

Although the occasional event occurred that shook things up. For the most part it was idyllic, a place of calm where parents could raise their foals without a care in the world.

Such places however, are never as they seem. The more peaceful a town is, the more tempting it is to tricksters and hateful creatures from beyond the veil. For nothing is tastier to a demon then tainting something pure, and it didn’t get more pure then Ponyville.

                               *****

Rainbow Dash let out a yawn as she began to stir from her nap. Everything was perfect in the young pegasus's small world, but there was still one thing that always haunted her once she awoke: The Wonderbolts. She loved that group more then life itself.

Stunt flying was her whole existence outside of the weather jobs that made up her occupation; her speed was her everything and she took pride in that fact, (to the extent that her ego swelled).

Unfortunately for her, as hard as she tried, her heroes were always just out of reach. She had tried to impress them time and time again, and each time had claimed praise from their leader, Spitfire, but never a place in the group.

At times it infuriated her, she knew she was the best, so why wouldn't they let her join? She was the fastest flyer in the whole of Equestira for Celestia's sake, and she was the only one to ever successfully pull off the Sonic Rainboom. So why wouldn’t they take her?

Rainbow Dash shook these unpleasant thoughts from her head as she began to lift herself off the cloud that she had been napping on. After a few stretches on her wings and legs she began to take off, when the most peculiar thing occurred.

A note floated down from above her. Startled she began to look around for the mail pony who had dropped the letter, but there was no one in sight for miles around. Rainbow Dash scratched at her rainbow mane, she wondered where on Equestria the note could of come from.

She shrugged her wings she looked down at the mysterious letter. It was the strangest thing she had ever seen. The envelope was a pale black colour with odd markings around the edge. Two words adorned the front of the note. “Rainbow Dash”, written in crude letters that shone against the black in a deep red colour.

Rainbow searched for a return address. “Nothing”, she muttered to herself.

How odd that this note had come out no nowhere. Rainbow, however, didn't take much note of this; impulsive as ever, she began to open the strange letter.

“Perhaps it’s from a fan?”, she thought as she unfolded the small flap of paper that she procured from the black envelope.

Miss Rainbow Dash

I have heard your story, and frankly I'm insulted that a group like the Wonderbolts wouldn’t take a flier as talented and skilled as you.  This needs to be corrected as soon as possible, and I just happen to be in a situation where I can help you. If you so choose to accept my kind offer, please come to the edge of the Everfree Forest at midnight sharp.

Don t be late, this is a one time offer Miss Dash.

Signed

A friend who can help.

A huge grin had plastered itself on Rainbows’ face. Rainbow Dash rushed back to her cloud home as fast as her wings would take her. In her haste she left the note behind, should she of stayed she might of known the danger she was in. The letter had combusted into flame leaving only a small bit of ash on the cloud.

                            ******

“Midnight on the dot”. Rainbow Dash had been ecstatic all day, she couldn’t believe that somepony was going help her get into the Wonderbolts.

On the trip there, thoughts had popped up her mind, however: thoughts of doubt. Who was this person that was going to help her? And why she seem to interest them so much?

It didn't add up; something did not feel right to the cyan pegasus.

Her ego promptly took control of the second question but the first still burned in her mind. To get her into her heroes group they would have to have a lot of power in Canterlot.

She wondered if it was some noble or something trying to get some fame by getting a new star into the group or something.

All the thought was cut abruptly when she heard a voice coming out of the forest.

“Welcome, welcome Miss Dash. I hope I wasn't too hard to find, and sorry about the time but I assure you I have my reasons.”

A unicorn stallion had moved out of some bushes towards the young pegasus. His coat was a dark red, his mane only slightly lighter shade of red as if he had rammed his head into a bucket of fresh berries.

The first thing that Rainbow Dash noticed were the sunglasses he was wearing. Who needs sunglasses in the middle of the night? Shrugging the question aside she began to speak.

“Who are you? And why do you want to help me anyway?” Dash couldn’t help but eye the strange stallion suspiciously.

“Why Rainbow Dash, I am just a humble fan of yours who wants to see a great injustice corrected.  I happen to have some level of power over the Wonderbolts.” he was grinning by this point, and something about that smile began to make Rainbow Dash shiver. “If you will it, I can make you a Wonderbolt, as simple as that”.

“What's the catch?” Rainbow quizzed, feeling a little off put by how easy this seemed to be.

The stallion began to laugh, “No catch my dear, dear Rainbow Dash.”, he began to grin again. What was it about that grin that unnerved Rainbow so much?

“I will however need you to join me for... one day, that's all, one, no more, no less.

His horn began to glow a sickly red as a scroll and quill appeared before Rainbow Dash.

“All you have to do is sign. Do we have a deal?”, he floated the quill over to Rainbow Dash, who took it in her teeth. Something inside her screamed this was wrong, to run and never look back, but this chance didn't come every day. She could have her dream, to be a Wonderbolt!

Gulping hard, she threw all her worry out the window and signed her name on the bottom of the scroll.

“Gotcha”, the unicorn exclaimed with a large toothy grin. Rainbow could only stare at the figure before her. His teeth were sharp as fangs, as if he took a file to them every morning to make sure they stayed that way. The red of his coat began to melt away showing a crystal white underneath.

Not all the colour vanished however, splotches of deep red remained on his flank like fresh blood from an open wound.

Shocked Rainbow Dash began to run, forgetting she even had wings in this situation. However, a large dome of living fire began to surround both her and the stallion. She turned back to him, eyes wide in shock as he removed his sunglasses, revealing two blood red dragon eyes.

“Ah ah ah, don't be a naughty filly, you signed of your own free will, so for one day you’re mine!”, he chuckled in a sing song voice, the flames began to get closer until they engulfed both ponies, leaving nothing left but some light traces of ash on the ground.

                         ******

Rainbow Dash finally awoke, noting the splitting headache in the back of her head, “What happened to me?”

She was in a small black room devoid of all light. She tried to move her legs but, to no avail; even her wings wouldn’t move. She gasped in horror as she realised she was bound to a medical table,  legs tied and her wings pinned to her back.

“Hello, is anypony there?” she screamed into the darkness, desperately trying to get free of her restraints. Then in the distance she heard it, the sound of hooves on stone. “Help, please get me out of here,” was all she could scream into the darkness, hoping with all her might the pony in the shadows was friendly.

What she saw, she couldn't believe. A pink earth pony with a bubblegum pink mane had come bounding up to her, a huge grin on her face. Rainbow Dash knew this mare, it was her best friend Pinkie Pie.

Relief spread through her body like a river as she saw her friend; she knew Pinkie would help her after all.

“Pinkie, oh I'm so glad to see you! I have no idea where I am or what happened. Can you please get these ropes off me?” sighed Rainbow in relief.

Pinkie Pie began to bounce around the table and in her sing song voice spoke to Rainbow, “Silly Dashie, you can't go yet, the party has only just started, and leaving would be rude and you’re not rude are you?”

“Wait, you’re in on this? How could you! I thought you were my best friend.” Rainbow was shocked at this point, rage growing on her face. Pinkie just giggled as she looked back to her helpless friend.

“You really don't know what you got your self into, do you Dashie? Didn’t any one ever tell you to beware strangers bearing gifts, well unless it’s a party then that's ok, ohh I know we should have a party right here right now shouldn’t we Dashie?”

Bounding back into the shadows Pinkie was gone only a second before coming back with a big black toolbox. “Hey Dashie, I heard from Twilight that putting pins into people can feel good, well I couldn't find any pins but I got the next best thing”   digging in the box she removed a box of nails and a rusty hammer.

Rainbow couldn't believe her eyes, was Pinkie really about to do what she thought she was?

“Don’t you dare Pinkie, this isn’t funny”, the first spike of pain hit her as a nail was driven into her hoof.

Screaming in agony as blow after blow came to her cracking bone and leaving a trail of metal in her legs, the pain was greater then anything she had ever felt before, she wanted to cry but couldn’t, she just wanted it to stop.

“So Dashie, was Twilight right, did it feel good, hey did it, did it?” Pinkie, her normal self, was giggling again, “Oh that was so much fun, what should we do next?” Rainbow was unable to say anything, her blood dribbling off the table through the fresh wounds in her legs.

“You’re....not....Pinkie,” she spit in a quiet voice, panting with each word. “She wouldn't do this!”

Pinkie stood there dumb struck, with a small frown on her face. “Aw, did you have to go and figure that out so soon, I was having fun, spoil sport,” the Pinkie clone was grinning now, her normal teeth began to sharpen and point at the ends. Her face began to melt off the bone and ooze with blood before falling to the ground with a wet slap.

At the sight of this Rainbow Dash wanted to vomit more then anything in the world, but nothing would come; just the horrid feeling of nausea sitting in the pit of her stomach. She closed her eyes in an effort to block out the horrid event, but the sounds still haunted her.

Then she began to feel the heat, snapping her eyes open she began to see the flames again burning at her flesh, leaving nothing but bone and ash in its wake. It was agony, Rainbow's blood curdling screams filled the tiny chamber.

                               *****

The moment felt like an eternity, but soon the pain ended and Rainbow was sprawled on a cold stone floor. Leaping to her legs, she examined her whole body. Nothing was wrong, not a feather out of place. “W-whats going on here!” She had felt the pain and seen the wounds, but nothing, all of it was gone: she was as fit as the day she was foaled.

The sound of hooves clapping could be heard from the darkness behind her. Turning around to face the sound she was almost blinded by the lighting of giant fire pits which seemed to engulf the large rectangular chamber.

 At the back of the room flanked by two of these pits was a large stone throne, carved into the shape of a pony's head crying in terror, just looking at it you could almost hear the screams.

The stone almost shone with a dark light and was made of some unearthly ore Rainbow had never seen in her life, and sitting on the stone tongue that made the seat was... him.

That same unicorn that she had seen just before the fire took her the first time and brought her to this Clesetia forsaken place.

“I must give it to you, you’re stronger then I thought you would be,” his horn was glowing as a glass of wine apeared before him, swiftly taking a drink he looked back at his visitor. “Most ponies go insane before they even figure out that it's not their friends killing them slowly.”

“What are you!” Rainbow dash snapped, wings open trying to look as threatening as she could. However all this did was cause the creature in front of her to laugh.

“Oh how rude of me, I never introduced my self.” raising from his seat with a flourish he began to boast. “I go by many names in many worlds, but I could sit here forever counting off the names you creatures have called me over the millennium.”

He vanished and reappeared right in front of the mares face, causing her to stumble backwards.

“You however can call me Blood Red, master of this realm you see before you,”

“Where are we anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked, suddenly ignoring what happened to her just a moment ago, as curiosity got the better of her.

“The Netherworld, the Underworld, that place bad ponies go, call it what you want you’re there missy,”

“Wait, so I'm dead then?”  Rainbow stuttered at the idea that she could of left the land of the living early.

“Not quite,” Blood said in a serious voice, which seemed to be rare for him up until now, “You wanted something, I gave you the chance to obtain it. However such things require... payment.”

The blood rushed from Rainbow's face leaving her white as a sheet (or as white as you can be with blue fur) “What...kind of payment?” she questioned, the fear ever-present in her voice.

Blood chuckled wildly, “The best kind: you are to say here for one whole day as my play thing. Enough chatter, it’s time to get to the fun. I'm a busy demon after all.”

Fire began to engulf the room yet again.  Rainbow tried her best to brace herself for the pain. It was in vain, as agony took Rainbow again, just like the first time. Rainbow Dash felt herself being reduced to dust before everything went black.

   ******

Rainbow Dash blinked again as the world began to refocus, finding herself in a long tunnel which seemed to go on forever, stretching into the abyss.

Anger began to boil in Rainbow Dash as she remembered what Blood Red told her. “A play thing!” she screamed in her head, how dare anyone treat her like this!

Suddenly Blood Red appeared floating in the air before her, a sick look of amusement on his face. He was staring into the dark void that lay before them. “Now, shall we begin my little toy?”

“I'm not your toy, I'm Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in Equestira, and I can take anything you throw at me,” Rainbow spat at the figure floating above her, sick of looking weak.

Blood span his head in an impossible way, looking at her behind him without ever turning his body his eyes glowing as he spoke, “now this one has spirit; lets see if we can do something about that shall we?”

With a glow of his horn a key appeared in front of Rainbow Dash, “Do you think you were the only one I managed to trick down here, that pink one wasn’t half as much fun as you have been.”

“What have you done with Pinkie Pie, ANSWER ME!” Rainbow Dash hated the idea that one of her friends was in trouble. She had to find her.

His grin grew wider until it went from ear to ear. “Don't worry your little head over it my pet, she is safe for now and I'm going to give you a chance to make sure she stays that way.”

“See that key in-front of you, well your little friend in down this tunnel. This key opens the lock to her cage, all you have to do is,” he leaned in close next to Rainbow's ear wispering, “Take it.”

With that Rainbow grabbed for the key with her teeth but as she tried he quickly made the key vanish again. “tut, tut, did no one teach you any manners, nothing is free you silly filly.” Rainbow was getting angry now, she could see he was enjoying this but there was nothing she could do.

“What do you want for it?” she spat, clearly unimpressed by his actions. With this Blood Red began to look into the void, deep in thought for a while. Then he turned back to Rainbow and flew just inches away from her face, that impossibly large grin growing larger still.

“How about... your wings!” At this Dash recoiled, he wanted her wings but they were the most important thing in her life. Without her wings she would no longer be able to fly, her dreams of being in the wonderbolts would be made impossible.

“But if you take my wings isn't this whole thing worthless? I wont be able to join the wonderbolts without them, isn't there something else you want instead.”

“And what would you be willing to give up, your legs, your soul, your innocence?” Blood chuckled at every word, “no I have made up my mind, I want your wings. However I could be convinced to just let this game slip by and go onto the next one.”

Rainbow was horrified at this though, she couldn’t just leave Pinkie here, she would never forgive her self if she let one of her friends take the fall for something she did, after all she was the element of loyalty.

“I cant say what will happen to your little friend though, she might live or she might die. What good are friends anyway, waste of time.” Blood grumbled through his teeth, not pleased with the idea of friends at all.

Through gritted teeth, she couldn’t believe she was going to say this but she had to for her friends.

“Fine, take them, just give me that damn key,”

Yet again Blood Red began to laugh manically as a red glow began to coat his horn, the same glow began to envelop Rainbow's wings, spreading them out as if she was about to take off.

In a split second the silence of the tunnel was filled with the echo of tearing flesh and screams of pain and anguish.

Blood dripping from her sides, all Rainbow could do for the moments after this event was focus on the pain, stopping herself collapsing, “Give...me...the...key,”

“As you wish my dear,” he gave a small bow before igniting the two torn wings turning them to dust, then he brought the key to Rainbow once more. She grabbed it this time without any altercation, and galloped full force down the tunnel into the inky blackness.

It felt like forever in that dark abyss, but Rainbow Dash steeled her self and kept going, no matter how much her sides ached. At least they had stopped bleeding now which was some consolation.

Finally she saw it a small red cage just sitting there at the end of the long expanse, she had managed to make out a small pink figure inside the cage. “Oh Celestia, let her be alright please.” she muttered to her self, key still in mouth.

She rammed the key into the small keyhole on the side of the cage and fumbled with the lock, she was almost jumping in glee when she heard that click.  Slowly she opened the cage but there was no movement from within.

Rainbow rushed to the aid of her friend, she took her in her hooves trying to get her to wake up. But the pink pony lay still as stone, her body covered in injuries and burns, her mane not its normal bouncy chaotic mess but strait as it clung to her cold body.

“No, Pinkie don't do this to me, I cant lose you, please be alright,” Rainbow Dash was on the verge of tears at this point she couldn’t hold it any more, her friend lay dead in her arms. She began to sob into the pink pony’s mane hoping for movement, begging for a smile or for this to just be one of Pinkie's pranks.

Rainbow knew better. She placed her friend back into the cage and screamed at the top of her lungs. Why did she have to take that damn ponies offer because of her she had hurt her friends, she had betrayed them.

Just then the body of her friend began to burn with white hot fire. Rainbow dash panicked, she didn’t want the body hurt any more then it already was. With her hooves she began to stomp on the body trying in vain to stop the flames, it was too late the body was gone only ash was left.

A familiar voice could be heard from behind her. “Now wasn't that fun,” Blood red chirped, pleased with how things played out.

“Fun....FUN!” Rainbow screamed in rage, “HOW WAS THIS FUN, you took my wings, killed my friend, and asked me if it was fun!”

Blood's grin began to melt from his face being replaced by an angry growl, looking at Rainbow with a stare that would make Fluttershy proud, “me, it’s MY FAULT!? No you stupid foal it’s yours, this is where your damn loyalty gets you. Your friend is dead, your wings are gone and what do you have to show you for self giving ways, NOTHING!”

Then as soon as it began, his frown turned right back into a big toothy grin, “Friends are a waste of time look, what loyalty has given you, pain nothing else.”

“Come with me, it’s time to make your final choice,”

“I'm not going anywhere with you, MONSTER! Why are you doing this to me, what did I do to deserve this.” Rainbow Dash was still crying but her rage couldn’t be contained at this point, this thing before her had taken everything from her.

“Why am I doing this?” Blood's grin grew large yet again, “Because I'm master here that's why, I can do whatever I want and you have to take it, you signed the damn contract and it says you have to do as I say while in my realm, that is if you bothered to read the damn thing.”

Confused, tired and very angry, Rainbow Dash just stared at him until realising she had no choice. After a long time of silent walking they finally made it to a large chamber with a giant hole stationed in the middle.

“I'm giving you a choice now my dear little Rainbow Dash, one last test and I let you go. Fail and I keep you here forever.”  Blood Red was solemn while he spoke for once. “Don't disappoint me,”

“Wait I thought you said I only had to stay here for one day?” Rainbow Dash was confused at this point, Blood's outburst had shown he cared about the contract they had made, yet here he was about to break it.

“Heh, silly foal, this is why you always read the fine print,” horn aglow, Blood made the contact appear in front of Rainbow, and there it was right at the bottom in tiny writing. “Ahem.. should you break this contract at any point during this little trip into the underworld, the contract will be made null and void.” with that the scroll vanished again showing his grin yet again.

“Which means, you’re mine forever! Now on to the test.”

“Dangling over this pit of fire is some one you know, this leaver allows her to drop, your test.” a demonic look had formed in Blood Reds eyes, “Kill her!”

Rainbow Dash's eyes shot up to the rope when she heard this, and sure enough tied to the end of the rope was Applejack, another one of Rainbow's close friends. The orange earth pony hung there lifeless.

“Think about it Rainbow, just pull the leaver and you get everything, fame, the Wonderbolts, I will even return you wings to you.”

Blood laughed, “ Just one little life, and it’s all yours.”

Rainbow couldn’t believe what she was hearing, killing Applejack, no she couldn’t, she wouldn’t. But then again she had suffered so much down here, her wings still just bloody stumps, Pinkie was dead, what would one more hurt.

She shook her head as hard as she could, she couldn’t believe she was even thinking about doing it, Applejack didn’t deserve this but she did, she signed that damn contract. Taking a deep breath she looked at Blood with fury in her eyes. “The contract says you have to give me whatever I want correct?”

Blood just stared at Rainbow for a second, “Yes whatever your heart wants, why?”

Rainbow Dash took another deep breath, “I want you to set free Applejack, and take me instead.”

This had not been the answer Blood had wanted, smile long gone he began to scream with primal rage. “YOU DARE!”

Blood sighed, and began to grin once more, “ Fine but know this Rainbow Dash, this means you’re mine forever.”

Rainbow just nodded in agreement.

With this Blood's horn began to glow once more firing a jet of flame at Rainbow Dash. Without her wings she had no way to avoid the gout of fire rushing at her. Everything went dark once more.

                                   *****

Back in this throne room, Blood Red wasn’t happy at all, but he didn't look angry either. He looked more like a spoiled foal who didn't get his way or his toy taken from him.

Behind him a voice chimed out “So, how did it go then?”

Blood Red gave the newcomer a pout, “she passed, no matter what I tried I couldn’t break the element of loyalty,”

“So where is she now,” the mysterious voice asked.

“I sent her back, no fun in messing with her any more she wont remember any of it, it was like she was never gone,” Blood sighed at this.

“Oh well you still have five more don't you?”

Blood jumped to his feet, his grin growing once more, “So I do, I cant wait to get started on the next one I'm sure they all won be unbreakable, I will show you sister, I'm stronger then them!”

Authors note.

I would like to thank everyone that helped me with this Darthmedivh/spitfyre who helped with ideas and proofreading and valvoja who helped me with ideas.

Also big shout out to EPR who have made me love being a brony since day one.

Parties End

  Deals of the Devil: Parties End

Light filtered through the window as Celestia's sun began to rise, filling the  room with its warm glow. At this, nature's alarm clock, a figure began to stir under pink sheets.

Yawning loudly the mare began to drag herself from the bed, towards a small mirror stationed on the wall to inspect herself. Suddenly as if she had just drunk a whole gallon of coffee, the mare began to radiate energy as she saw herself in the mirror.

“Goooood morning Pinkie Pie!” she exclaimed to herself in the mirror. A small squeak could be heard from a basket on the other side of the room, (a reaction to the noise which now filled the area).

The pink earth pony bounced over toward to basket before nusseling the bed to remove its contents. “Good morning Gummy, did you have a superrific nap?” A small alligator had appeared from the basket, it gave another squeak before looking at the ball of energy with a blank stare.

“Come on Gummy, we have a fun, fun day ahead of us, so lets get this party started!” At the call of his master the small aligator clamped onto Pinkie's tail, (which didn’t hurt since he had no teeth after all), and both of them made their way to the small bathroom off the side of Pinkie's bedroom.

After her morning rituals were completed, Pinkie Pie bounced down the stairs to begin her day as Ponyville's apprentice baker and all around party pony. Her employers Mr and Mrs Cake, or family as Pinkie saw it, were already beginning the day, stocking shelves with baked goods and working the ovens in back, filling the shop with a heavenly smell which would attract ponies for miles.

“Hello everypony!” Pinkie was grinning every bounce she took, but most ponies in Ponyville were use to her by now. If they were new to Ponyville however it never took them long to meet the resident party pony. She had a sixth sense when new ponies came to town, and would always throw a welcome party in their honour.

“Good morning Pinkie Pie, cheerful as always I see.” chirped Mrs cake, from the kitchen trying to get everything ready for the new day. “I'm glad you're awake we could use your help this morning, oh and the mail came, there is a note for you dear.”

Pinkie was ecstatic at this news, she always loved getting mail no matter what it was, after all it could be a party invite or even something from her relatives. She didn’t hear from them often as they were always busy with the rock farm, but she always loved getting something from them.

“Yay mail, I love getting letters.” she screamed as she rushed to the pile of notes on the counter. “Bill,bill, hey Mr cake you may of won a million bits, bill, ah here it is.” she muttered as she explored each note trying to find the one for her. There it sat, a strange black envelope nothing like what she was expecting, party invites were normally in pink or colourful envelopes and anything from her parents was always simple.

This note however was very Gothic with strange runes adorning the rim. Two words sat in the centre of the paper in blood red ink, Pinkie Pie.

“Oh and dear, Rainbow Dash was here not long ago she said she had to call off hanging with you today, something about talking to Twilight about strange dreams.” Mr cake remarked, while stocking the shelves.

“Aww, we were going to try out some new pranks today as well,” Pinkie pouted before she brought her attention back to the strange note she had received that morning.

Opening the note she began to read,

Miss Pie

I represent the Manehatten Party and Prank emporium, it has come to our attention that you are one of our best customers in Ponyville, and we would like to extend an offer to you.

We are always trying to create the best in new party gimmicks. We would like for you to test one of our newest projects. 'The Rainbow Streamer',  by far the greatest thing to happen to parties since the invention of the balloon and the cake.

If you should choose to accept, please come to the edge of the Everfree forest at midnight sharp.

We know this might be risky but we fear attempts from opposing companies trying to steal the design from us, so discretion is needed.

From the desk of:

Red Balloon

Lead Design Technician

It was hard for Pinkie’s grin to get any bigger at this point, her eyes lighting up as she began to jump for joy, “A new party supply, oh I cant wait to try it out, and I know just the party to use it for. Rainbow's birthday is coming up and these new streamers sound like just the thing I need.”

Eating a quick breakfast, Pinkie began to go about her day unknowing of the dark force grinning at her from the shadows.

    ******

Pinkie arrived at the agreed meeting spot, more excited now then she had been in years. Looking up at the sky she could tell it was midnight on the dot. Pinkie began to bounce as she waited for her visitor to arrive which didn't take long.

A rustle from the bushes announced his entry, a Red coated body with a light red mane, his cutie mark was a single large red balloon with a scroll tied to it. Bowing deeply he began to address the pink earth pony.

“Greeting Miss Pie, can I call you Pinkie?” with a nod Pinkie agreed. “Thank you for meeting with me on short notice Pinkie, my name is Red balloon, I am the lead designer and tester for the PnP emporium in Manehatten. I'm so glad you came I'm so excited about this new product and you are just the pony to test it for us.”

“Can I see it please, please.” Pinkie couldn’t contain her self she wanted nothing more then to see this new party tool in action.

“With pleasure,” the unicorn stallion replied, “we are really proud of this, I present to you The Rainbow Streamer!” with a flourish his horn began to glow making a small box appear. With baited breath Pinkie opened the small container that had appeared before her.

As the container opened a glow as bright as the sun could be seen for a moment as the contents were shown to the world. Small strips of paper lay in the box red at first before turning to green and then to blue. They seemed to turn every colour ever made, Pinkie could hardly believe it.

“These are ultra-super-riffic, I would love to give these a go in a party,” Pinkie grinned as she looked on the chromatic display in her hooves.

“Great, just a technicality however, before I can leave these in your oh so capable hooves I need you to sign an agreement. It just says you wont sell these onto another company for profit or anything.”  Horn aglow once again, Red made a scroll and quill magic out of nowhere in front of the pink pony.

“Okie dokie lokie,” Pinkie said cheerily as she took the quill in her mouth and signed her name on the bottom of the parchment.

As the scroll vanished once again into thin air Pinkie noticed something odd, her knees were pinching. “Mr Red we should probably move, my Pinkie sense says something scary is about to happen.”

“Oh Pinkie, I know;I know.” with that Red's coat began to melt from his body revealing a crystal white coat in its place, the red balloon replaced by blood stains. He stared at Pinkie grinning, his teeth began to sharpen and point. Laughing maniacally he summoned fire to surround the two figures.

“What's going on,” screamed Pinkie, there was no answer, there was only fire.

******

Heavy panting could be heard through the small dark tunnel, torches made the shadows dance as a small pink figure ran as fast as she could down the snaking darkness. How did she ever get into this Pinkie thought to herself, one second she was admiring a new party favour and now she was running for her life.

She tried to block it out but her thoughts kept returning to that small chamber she had awoken in and the terrors which occurred from then on.

       ******

Pinkie slowly awoke to find out a few things about her new location, first her head hurt like a hammer had been used to reshape it, second there was little light in the small square room but it smelled like chemicals.

A small red glowing bulb illuminated a small switch on the other side of the room, Pinkie hoped that was the lights as she made her way towards it. Luck was on her side this time as the small switch made an audible clack. Small lights on the ceiling began to flutter and come to life.

“There we go much bett.....” she said to her self before turning around catching the first sight of the contents of the room. Her heart stopped in her chest and her blood ran cold at macabre contents.

Five metals tables lined the room in a row on the left side of the room, on the right stood tables with all manner of tools and implements used in surgery each one slick in a coat of red liquid.

Each of the tables were flanked by a small bucket, however Pinkie couldn’t make out the contents from where she stood. Each of the tables were covered by a white blood splatted cloth, the shape of ponies distinctly showed from under.

The room had the look and smell of a morgue that had been abandoned, red stains coated the walls and the small sink at the back of the room was covered in mold and foul water.

Pinkie shook her head wondering why on earth anypony would want to take her here in the first place. Her eyes shifted back to the medical tables, everything in her mind screamed leave them alone, to run, but her curiosity was getting the better of her.

She slowly moved towards the centre most table and holding her breath removed the sheet with a quick yank. The sound of a balloon popping could be heard throughout the room as the pink mares normally bouncy hair deflated leaving a strait mane that normally was never seen.

Pinkie could only stand there, dumbstuck in horror as she looked towards to body laying on the table. It was a unicorn, or at least had been once its horn long since removed with some form of hacksaw. The unicorns rich purple coat was stained red and a large empty hole lay in her chest.

The unicorn had no cutie mark, that didn't mean she never had one, just that it had been removed by a knife or other sharp tool. Only a bloody mark remained where they should have been on the poor things flanks.

Pinkie knew this unicorn. It was her friend Twilight Sparkle.

Pinkie Pie stumbled backwards after discovering this, as she did however he hoof caught metal tripping her over causing her to fall flat on her face. Dusting herself off she walked to what had caught her hoof and her eyes narrowed into pinpoints, her face tinted green at the sight.

Rushing to the corner of the room she brought up everything she had eaten over the past day. The object was one of the buckets, its contents now spilled over the floor leaving a large red pool of blood. Internal organs lay festering in the puddle of body fluids.

The smell and sight had been too much for Pinkie to handle and it took her a fair while to recover from this event. Panting, sitting on her haunches she tried to get a handle on the situation that was befalling her.

Getting to her feet she began to do the same to all the other medical tables, removing the sheets one by one to confirm her fears. It was true, the bodies of all five of her friends lay mutilated on the tables horns and wings removed.

“No, this cant be happening, you guys cant be dead. It's not possible I don't believe it this is all a bad dream.” Pinkie screamed to the darkness of the room. She fell to the ground and began to sob her eyes out.

A voice dripping in malice and hate then began to speak, “Oh but it is true my little pink plaything, and do you want to know something else. It's all your fault!”

“Who's there,” Pinkie called.

Taking the chance at a grand entrance, with the flash of fire and brimstone a unicorn had appeared in the room with Pinkie Pie. She knew this unicorn, he was the one who offered her the rainbow streamer, but why was he here, did he do this?

“Mr Balloon?” questioned Pinkie Pie, puzzled as to why he was here. Then it hit her, he had done this, he had taken her and her friends and was planing to do to her what he did to them.

“Leave me alone, you hurt my friends, GET AWAY FROM ME.” Pinkie screamed at the newcomer to the room.

“Oh but Pinkie, I didn't hurt your friends. Don't you remember, the rending of flesh, the cracking of bone, the screams. Why it was all you and you loved every minute of it, why you're even dressed for the part.”

Pinkie looked down at her self an noticed he was right, she had a pair of gloves on her hooves made out of latex and covered in blood, and on her chest she wore an apron made from the skinned flesh of ponies.

“After all they were your party guests, and we worked so hard to prepare this party my dear Pinkie,” the unicorn grinned at this, he knew he was getting to her now and he loved every second of it.

“No I would never hurt my friends, not ever!”

“Oh but Pinkie you did, and they never even got a chance to thank you for your wonderful job. Oh I know how about I wake them up so they can give their thanks to you personally.”

Wake them up? They were dead how could he wake them up Pinkie thought to herself, just then his horn began to glow as a sickly red aura began to coat the bodies.

The bodies on the tables began to convulse and shake, their eyes shot open leaving empty sockets filled with an creepy red light, they began to get off from their tables one by one each staring at Pinkie Pie.

Even though they had no eyes Pinkie could see malice in their stares. They all screamed at once, the sound sent shivers down Pinkie’s spine as she could only watch in horror as the dead bodies of her friends began to shiver and drag them selves closer towards her.

“Pinkie...it...hurts...why?” the body of Rainbow Dash began to say.

“We...were...friends.” Fluttershy croaked before falling over only to get back on her broken hooves.

“Punishment.” screamed the body of Twilight Sparkle.

Pinkie couldn’t move at the sight of this, she wanted to run, to scream but she just stood there paralyzed.

“Now now Pinkie be a good host and greet your guests.” chuckled the unicorn before vanishing in a wisp of fire.

      ******

Pinkie ran as fast as her hooves would take her, it had been a while since that horrid room now. She dashed down another tunnel in an attempt to lose her pursuers but no matter how slow they shuffled after her or how fast she ran they would always catch up.

Her shoulder was bruised from the slam she took trying to open that first door. It was worth it for she didn’t want to think what would happen if her friends caught her.

She had no idea what he had done to them to make them do this. It hurt Pinkie to even think about it her friends now nothing more then ghouls hungering for pony flesh. Pinkie let out a sob as she ran, they blamed her for it as well, she would never hurt her friends yet they blamed her.

The small dark hallway that she had been navigating began to widen into a large rectangular central chamber, small torches wreathed in fire adorned the walls like grim watchers to the events that transpired here each day. Large pits of flame and brimstone lined the outer rim of the room leading towards a large throne as the centrepiece of the room.

Pinkie gasped as she saw the throne in all its demonic glory. It was a pony head screaming in horror, how could anypony want to sit on something so morbid. Blood stained the walls and the stone as a tattered carpet ran the room toward the ghastly chair.

A bolt of living flame jutted from the ground as a figure appeared on the chair, glass of wine held by his magic, a demonic grin on his face.

“Now Pinkie, isn't it rude to leave your guests without a host they're waiting for you as we speak.” Blood couldn’t keep his elation to him self erupting in a cackle at this thought.

“Who are you?” Pinkie questioned, “your names not Red Balloon is it, and your not even a pony are you!”

“Now, now Pinkie, I'm a pony just like you. I am however more or less trapped in this realm only able to leave at places of chaotic power such as your Everfree forest. My name is Blood Red, lord of this realm. But I guess you ponies don't even remember me, I've been down here so long.

Blood Red actively looked sad at the fact that he had been forgotten on the surface realm, “but that doesn't matter at all, it looks like your guests have caught up so don't let me interrupt your party.” He said with a giggle as he took a sip from his glass.

At this the five ghoul ponies began to emerge from the dark tunnel from behind Pinkie, groaning in pain and shouting horrid things at the pink mare. “Your fault,” they began to chant in unison as they dragged their fetid bodies towards the cowering pink mass.

Pinkie now resigned herself to her fate, at least it would be her friends she spent her last moments with. Then it hit her, like Rainbow Dash after she failed a trick or Applejack had given Pinkie a swift kick. These couldn’t be her friends, even in death her friends wouldn’t attempt to hurt her she knew this with all her being.

They were just ghosties, brought by this evil unicorn to scare her. She knew this now, she didn't know how but she did. And what did Granny Pie always tell her.

Before anypony in the room could notice what happened Pinkie was on her hooves, her pink mane a large frizzy mess as it normally was. She stared at the ghouls creeping towards her, a huge grin on her face. With this she began to laugh.

Something happened then which had never occurred in the deep bowls of the netherworld. True laughter echoed throughout its halls, not the demonic cackles that Blood was known for no, but pure laughter that could only be conjured by some one of heart and joy.

The beasts began to slow to a crawl, stopping just short of their target. They began to shake and convulse as if lighting passed through their forms. With this they ignited into pink flame thrashing on the floor in pain before being reduced to nothing more then ash on the ground.

Spinning her self around Pinkie began to look to her captor, by now his jaw was hitting the floor. He couldn't believe that after all he had put her through, all that pain and torment she could still laugh in the face of pain.

Blood Red was angry, there was no reasoning with him now. His plan had failed, his fun cut short and if there was one thing you never wanted to do to somepony with the mindset of a sadistic spoiled brat was spoil the fun.

He lifted himself from his throne in a fit of rage and began trashing the room, fireballs and magma began to rise from the pits as if they were just extra parts of this unicorn raging before Pinkie Pie. “YOU!” he screamed at Pinkie, “How could you get past this, how could you after all I did laugh like that.”

Pinkie began to recoil at the flaming form before her, Blood Red had taken a form similar to the one twilight took when she couldn’t figure out her Pinkie sense. However this was much more terrifying.

The flames on his back were devoid of colour, pure black as the void its self. His aura at that moment would make even Celestia seem powerless.

“BEGONE!” he growled as he fired the void flames towards Pinkie, the feeling that occurred to the pink mare could never be explained in words. The closest she could ever get to it would be to say it was like never being born.

        ******

Pinkie woke with a fright. Sweating and panting she began to take in her surroundings. She was home, in bed like any other night. Flopping back down on her pillow she tried her best to remember her bad dream. Nothing came to her only red eyes and black flame.

Thinking it was probably best she couldn’t remember anything she went back to sleep, unable to shake the fact that it might not of been a dream. She would have to talk to Twilight about it another day.

        ******

Blood Red was restless after this encounter, not one but two of the elements of harmony had beat him now. He hated to feel weak more then having his playthings get the better of him.

“Well?” the mysterious voice spoke again.

“The blasted mare laughed! Can you believe it I show her, her dead friends and she laughs.” Blood slammed his glass to the floor smashing it.

“I did say Dagon, that they cant be beaten like this.”

The look of rage on the face of the unicorn doubled, “Do NOT call me that, you have no right to even utter my real name after what you and my damned brother did to me.”

The voice sighed, “we had no choice, you would of destroyed everything.”

“Bah, begone!” with a wave of his hoof the voice vanished. This wasn’t over he thought to himself, even if he couldn't break the elements he had a backup plan.

But for now he put his focus into his next victim, after all he only had to break one for them to come all crumbling down.

Twisted kindness

Deals of the devil : Twisted Kindness

The dank and musty feel of the cave seemed to permeate the air itself. Small indents lined the walls of the cavern blocked by large iron bars glowing red in the meager torchlight. The air was thick with dust and damp making it hard to breathe.

... Wailing echoed through the makeshift prison. The sounds of tortured and unfortunate souls who had been imprisoned there writhed in pain and anguish. The cells, however, had no ponies or even other races of Equestria, but masses of black smoke which had a life of its own.

One cell however was devoid of the ghostly smoke which haunted the other cells. This cell was a small room off the side of the cave, blocked by a large wooden reinforced door which stood proud in the hellish depressing surroundings.

Rats and other such creatures skittered about the small chamber grabbing whatever they could find from the straw covered floor. Blood stained the stone walls and the bones of old inmates were an ever present reminder of the fate that would befall a new cell-mate.

This cell was not empty however, but its 'guest' was still very much asleep in the corner of the room. Two other creatures were huddled up to the yellow mass in the corner. They were rabbits and they were desperately trying to wake the third in the room. To their horror she would not wake no matter how much they tried. Just as they had begun to give up and resign themselves to their fate the yellow mass began to move.

It was a butter yellow pegasus with a bubblegum pink mane. She slowly began to rise, blinking in an attempt to get used to the darkness. Still being quite weak made attempts to stand futile and just ended in her falling into a heap back to the floor.

Confusion fogged her mind as she couldn’t recall anything that had happened after she had left her house to look after an injured animal the day before. "Hello?" she whispered towards the door, "is any pony there? Where am I?"

Just then she noticed the two shivering balls of fur at her hooves. Two small rabbits were cowering next to her legs trying to look as small as they possibly could. She didn’t recognise one of them but the other was unmistakable - her pet rabbit she loved and cared for at home; Angel.

The small white rabbit, seeing movement from the pegasus, jumped onto her neck in a steel grip and began to hug the pony as hard as his little bunny body would let him.

"Angel, do you have any idea where we might be?"

The small rabbit could only shake his head as he looked up at his master with worry in his eyes.

The quiet of the cell was disturbed by the distant sounds of hooves on stone. The pony began to panic, she had no idea if the pony coming towards the door would be friendly or not. Considering she was being held in a small locked room she thought it might be a good idea to try and hide.

However the room was scantily furnished, a small table no where near big enough to hide her sat in the corner with a small lantern adorning the top. A small pile of hay in the other corner, which could be used as a make shift bed, and a small foul smelling bucket which was just by the back of the room.

She had a feeling she knew what that was for but the idea quickly faded from her head as she embarrassed herself.

The hoof steps could be heard getting closer and closer now. She spun to look at the door, nowhere to hide and terrified at what might enter. As the rusty locks were moved and manipulated all the yellow mare could do was squeak a small noise which was meant to be a scream.

The door swung open, revealing a pure white unicorn, hair as red as fresh blood. Blood Red looked over his guest grinning to himself. Oh it was all to easy to get her to sign, just claim some animal was in trouble and she would do anything in order to help it. She was kind to a fault and Blood loved it.

"Fluttershy, oh how wonderful to see you are awake. I hope I didn’t disturb you, but I wouldn’t be a very good host if I didn’t greet my guests now would I?" At this Angel rushed to Fluttershy's side flinging his arms wide in an attempt to keep the monster in front of him from attacking his beloved owner.

Horn glowing, a red aura began to envelop the rabbit. With this he flew into the air and hard into the wall collapsing, alive but out cold. "Damn fur-ball, I don’t know how on earth you put up with these 'things' Fluttershy." He began to draw closer to the scared pegasus, staring her right in the eyes.

Fluttershy fainted there and then due to the stress of the whole situation, terror gripping her very being. Blood could only laugh at this, before rubbing his eye with his hoof. He guessed he would have to try again later after she had composed herself a bit more.

He didn’t mind waiting. Ideas of how much fun he was going to have with the timid mare made the time fly by to him. He sat by the small table conjuring a small list and began to write all his plans and ideas down while he waited.

*******

Ponyville awoke that morning as if nothing had ever happened. Peaceful and serene as always, ponies began their day as they always did. Mothers sending their foals to school, ponies on their way to work or the market. Nothing out of the ordinary.

However a dark feeling was gripping two of the members of Ponyville, both suffering strange nightmares the past few nights and unable to figure out what they might mean.

Pinkie Pie bounced towards the tree that made the library, her normal self for the most part. However, if you looked close you could notice her smile was not as big as it normally was.

She opened the library door and stepped in to find a familiar figure. The librarian, hard at work as always, was one of her best friends. The unicorn - Twilight Sparkle. However, she was not alone as Pinkie had thought. Floating in the air just above her was Rainbow dash.

"How strange, are you sure you told me everything Rainbow?" Twilight quizzed her friend.

"Sorry Twi, that is all I remember, I wish I could tell you more but it's all still a bit fuzzy." remarked the cyan pegasus. Bags under her eyes, it was obvious to an onlooker she had not had a good few nights.

"Hey girls, what'cha talking about?" Pinkie chirped, teleporting next to the pair and almost giving them heart attacks (how she did that no living thing on Equestria knew, but Twilight was determined to one day find out).

"Oh, hello Pinkie. Didn’t see you there, though I never see you there. How do you do that anyway?" Twilight remarked, trying to catch her breath after the sudden shock to her system from the pink party pony. Pinkie just shrugged. Twilight wasn’t sure if she even knew how she did it.

"Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. I was just telling Twi here about some weird nightmares that I've been having the past few days. Really freaky ones too." Rainbow added before Twilight could totally change the subject to trying to figure out how Pinkie ticked. She shook her head. That would keep them here all day!

"Wow, you too? And here I thought I was the only one who was having nightmares right now! That’s why I'm here, I wanted to know if Twilight could give me any advice on how to stop them."

"Pinkie," Twilight chuckled, "with the amount of sugar you eat I would say it was that, but tell me what they were about first."

"Well, it normally starts with me having my normal dream about the river of chocolate milk in a sugar cane boat. When I dip my hooves into the river to taste it, it always tastes so good, just like the kind I used to have when I was young and I was visited by my granny pie. Did I ever tell you guys about her....."

"PINKIE!" screamed Twilight to get her to pay attention for a moment, " get on with the nightmares please!"

"Oh, sorry Twilight," giggled Pinkie Pie, "alright, well, after a while the whole place goes dark apart from a dark blue-black flame, which is weird because it's still giving off a lot light. Well anyway, after a while the flame grows bigger and bigger, then after it's got to about double the size it normally is a unicorn appears from within it." Pinkie started to look quite disturbed at this. "Well, he's got a white coat like Rarity but his mane is red and he's got an odd cuite mark, like someone threw red paint on his flank."

Pinkie was starting to look rather shaken even remembering the events of her dream world. "After that he stares at me for a while and then I see a small pink fire coming out of me and into him. Once it reaches him his sides erupt into large blood red wings. Then the dark fire starts to burn me and I wake up."

Pinkie looked up at her friends after staring at the floor for a while. She was surprised to see her friends eyes had grown wide, a look of confusion glued to each face.

"Odd - that was almost the same dream that Rainbow Dash said she had the night before last," mused Twilight. She began to scan over the books she had scattered on the desk in front of her. Levitating a small red bound book, she began to search the pages for the passage she wanted.

Pinkie, turning to Rainbow asked, "what is she looking for?" Rainbow could only shrug at the pink pony. To be honest she had no idea either, she had only just got through telling Twilight about her strange dream before Pinkie had come in anyway.

"Hah! Here it is!" the sudden sound from Twilight made both of the other ponies jump for a second before looking to their friend with expectant looks on their faces.

"I thought I had read about that figure in your dreams before! It says here that he goes by many names, but his true name is unknown. He is a harbinger of chaos and destruction and is only seen in dreams." Twilight slammed the book closed. "Just an old pony tale though I'm sure it isn’t anything to worry about."

"But didn’t you tell us that you didn’t believe Nightmare Moon was an old ponies tale? what makes you sure this is the same?"

"Pinkie, I did a lot of research into the mare in the moon event, however that had real facts behind it. This is just some tale to scare little ponies into eating their alfalfa and being good before bed. A boogie man. Nothing more."

Pinkie wasn’t sure though. The dreams seemed so real she couldn’t believe that it was all in her head, even more so since Dashie had the same dream as her. Twilight saw the concern in her friends face, rare for the pink pony, and sighed, "fine, alright. I will do some more research into it."

"Oh, thank you so much Twilight! I'm sure you are right but I cant shake a bad feeli....." Just then a look of shock and horror sprang to Pinkie's face. Her knee was pinchy and she knew what that meant - something scary was about to happen.

She ran out of the library screaming, "There is something wrong with Fluttershy! Hurry!"

Before the two other ponies in the room could react, Pinkie was gone. Rising from their seats they began to follow the pink blur. They knew better then to ignore Pinkie's Pinkie sense.

******

The dark figures in Fluttershy's vision began to come into focus, becoming more and more pony-like. She had finally started to awaken and could swear she saw a unicorn hovering above her, but as the room came into total focus she was alone.

"Hello, is anypony there?" she cried into the dark room, as loud as she could, which was just above a whisper. This noise, however, was enough to gain the attention of the two other inhabitants of the room.

The two small rabbits came from the dark corner of the room and one jumped to the neck of the pony who had just yet again awakened. "Angel! Oh I'm so glad to see you! And who is your little friend?"

At this question the other small bunny almost jumped out of her skin. She was a small brown little thing about half the size of Angel, and from the look on her face, terrified beyond all reason.

Just seeing a small creature like this broke Fluttershy's heart as she took the small bunny into an embrace and began to hug and coo at the small one in order to calm it down. It didn’t take long for everyone in the room to calm themselves as Fluttershy had a way with animals like this.

"So little one, what is your name?" The rabbit began to try and pantomime out her name to no avail and a small snicker from the older rabbit in the room. Frustrated, she began to look around the room for any way to give her name to the yellow pony. After a few minutes she found what she was looking for.

Since the room that they were locked in was built directly into a cave wall, strange rocks and stones adorned the wall trapped within the coarse cut walls. Every so often there was a small shard of something a little more valuable then the normal rocks and stone that made up the cavern.

The rabbit returned a short while later with a small clear gem in her hand. Fluttershy was careful to take the stone from the rabbit since it had not been ground or polished leaving the gem rather sharp on one end.

"Your name is Gem?" Fluttershy asked trying to guess the name with the new clue in hoof. This was responded by a quick shake of the head as Fluttershy guessed again. "Crystal?" With this the female rabbit jumped for joy and began to hug one of Fluttershy's hooves.

"Aright Crystal, Angel, I don’t know where we are but stay close. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you two." The new silence of the room began to break as hooves approached the room once more, however this time the door didn’t open but instead a voice could be heard from the other side.

"Awake at last I see! After the last time you fainted I was so bored I had to have a little fun with you since you wouldn't play with me."

"Who are you?" cried Fluttershy, able to keep a bit more bravery this time as the figure was behind a solid door that could protect her.

"Why do they always ask me that?" quizzed the voice from beyond the door. "Ah well, it doesn’t matter. I just came to tell you of my little joke to pass the time. You have been infected with a certain kind of poison! Now now, before you freak out, the cure is in the room so you don’t need to worry about death."

Fluttershy now looked rather shaken by the thought of being infected with a dangerous poison. "Where is the cure and why did you do this to me?"

She could hear laughing now. It was wrong, sick laughter. Like a child who was having just a bit too much fun stomping on ants.

"The reason? I felt like it! The cure? Well, that’s where the fun begins! For this poison the only cure is adrenalin. Now now, before you think - Alright! All I have to do is get scared! -  No. It has to be a certain kind of rush. You can only get this rush when you take the life of another!" The assailant behind the door could then be heard walking away.

All three members in the room looked horrified at the new turn of events. Fluttershy, sensing Crystal's fear of being killed, began to hug both of the rabbits. "I would never hurt either of you so don’t worry," she cooed, " we will be saved soon, I'm sure of it."

******

Sleep was hard to get in the small cavern jail and even harder to keep once it had been obtained, but at last all three members were fast asleep. That was until Fluttershy swore she heard something. A wet noise she had never heard before. It was almost like a knife cutting a rotten apple, but no, that couldn’t be right. There was nothing in the room that could make that noise.

Then, before she could go back to sleep thinking it her imagination, she felt a warm wet feeling coming from where Angel had been asleep. Snapping open her eyes she began to look at the terror occurring before her. Crystal had taken the gem she had used to prove her name and was thrusting it into the now limp body of Angel over and over as blood pooled bellow his body.

"Stop," Fluttershy whimpered, "please stop," she said again a little louder, "STOP IT!" she screamed. Only once had she been this angry, this enraged. That fateful night at the gala. But Crystal would not stop. In some twisted blood lust she kept stabbing again and again, making sure no life could be held in Angel's body ever again.

Fluttershy didn’t know what to do! She wanted Crystal to stop, but she wouldn’t! Perhaps if she did something she could save Angel. Something. Anything! Her mind went blank. Rearing up on her back legs she slammed her hooves into Crystal's head.

With a wet crunch the small female rabbit was no more, but it was too late for Angel as well. He had been dead long before she had even woken up. Fluttershy broke into tears about the loss of her faithful pet and her new friend she had only made the day before.

What had made Crystal do it? What had made her kill Crystal? Fluttershy couldn’t make sense of the whole event.

With this, the big reinforced wooden door swung open, revealing a very pleased Blood Red.

"I see she took me up on my offer then. Shame she didn’t live long enough to learn the truth of the matter." he chuckled at the mare sobbing on the floor.

"So, murderer, how does it feel to take a life - the ultimate act of cruelty? Invigorating is it not?" Fluttershy just sat there in silence, unable to refute what she had done. "And even worse, she was just trying to help you." That now trademarked grin began to adorn Blood's face.

"I had told her that if she killed the other rabbit I would give you the real cure to the poison. Oh, she liked you so much! almost like a mother!" The yellow mares eyes were now as big as dinner plates staring into hell itself. "Oh, but don’t worry about that poison!" He couldn’t stop laughing now. Slowly he began to walk closer to the mare, placing his muzzle right next to the sobbing pony’s ear, whispering ,"There never was any poison!"

With this Fluttershy screamed, screamed louder then ever before. She began to glow with a bright yellow light .

"At last, the power to restore myself will soon be mine," Blood thought to himself. The glow began to grow into a small orb above Fluttershy, connected to her body by white light. He was so close now he could taste it.

Then it happened, the glowing orb retreated back into the body of Fluttershy, turning her into pure gemstone. However, a small glowing shard lay in front of her now petrified body. The small yellow gem glowed brightly with a small flame nestled in its core. Just then the body of Fluttershy shattered into dust which blew around Blood Red before vanishing into thin air.

"NO!! I was so close to getting the damn element! My brother always was overprotective when it came to his little toys. Damn protection spell sent her back to the surface before I could finish the job." Blood scoffed.

It was then he noticed the shard. "Oh, what is this?" his grin returned.

Back in his throne room he admired the new stone he had obtained. "Do you see this, sister?" he yelled into the darkness.

The mysterious voice returned once again "Yes brother, I do, and it worries me greatly."

"With this and a change of plans, not you, not my brother, not even your bastard spawn daughters that the surface so kindly name princesses can stop me!"

******

Back on the surface Pinkie Pie could be seen rushing to Fluttershy's house with everypony (and spike) in hot pursuit. As they arrived, Pinkie noticed the front door was open. Scared for the well being of her friend she rushed in.

When everyone was in Fluttershy's bedroom their fears were confirmed. Fluttershy lay in the bed with a look of pain on her face. But no matter what was tried she would not awaken.

"Well at least she's still alive." Said Rainbow Dash, trying to be ever optimistic about the whole situation.

"Twi, what the hay is going on?" asked Applejack from the back of the room.

"I have no idea, but it cant be good." With this a familiar sound of a letter could be heard from the small dragon in the room. Quickly opening it, he began to scan the paper.

"Twilight, the princess wants to see us all right away. She says it's urgent." said Spike, jumping onto Twilight's back and handing her the letter, which she promptly grabbed with her magic.

"Girls, I think this is about to get worse."

Dark sins

Dark Sins

Dark lights flickered around the chamber, as the flames from dimly light candles danced in the darkness. Nothing could be heard in the oppressive landscape. If death had a voice this place was sure be it.

Large blue flames suddenly began to grow and pulsate in the middle of the rooms antechamber, growing as if they had a life of their own; spinning and dancing around an unseen force, and with a flash of foul light, he appeared.

The living embodiment of chaos couldn't help but grin at this new gift he held within his evil magic. It was all coming together for him now and he would let nothing get in his way.

With a flick of his horn the ground began to shift and stir, like dark blood, it began to reshape its form into whatever he wished. This was his domain, and he had control.

After a few moments of sickening undulating, the ground began to fix into place, a large obsidian basin now stood proud in the center of the room.

A demonic grin formed on his face, as he placed the small pulsating yellow shard into the basin.

“Time to begin, and nothing will stop me now,” for something so vile, his voice was as smooth as silk.

“Nothing will stop me this time, nothing at all.”

The girls wasted no time in their summons from the Princess, they caught the first train to Canterlot.

There had been some protests about leaving Fluttershy behind at first, but Twilight assured them that nurse Tenderheart and nurse Redheart would be able to take care of her during their leave of absence.

The trip went along, almost in total silence, as no one on that train had any idea of what was going on, or who was to blame for all of this. It did not help that the nightmares had badly affected both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow was tired throughout the whole trip, but outright refused to sleep. While Pinkie was a shadow of her former cheery self, after realizing the dreams may have been true.

As the train skidded to a halt at Canterlot,  a normal citizen would have been shocked at the amount of guards waiting at the station.

“We have had escorts before, but nothing like this I wonder if something is wrong,” Twilight thought to herself, but paid it no attention as a guard began to approach her.

“Twilight Sparkle?” motioned the guard, “I am here to escort you to the Princess, she wants to see you as soon as possible. Please follow me.”

“Come on girls, we had best see what this is all about.” With that, Twilight and her friends began the short trip into Canterlot proper.

The castle was as opulent as the day it was built, something about it always reminded Twilight of safety.

Right now, however, there was an aura of darkness around the old castle. Something was wrong she knew it, heck, they all knew it. Without further delay, they began to make their way to the throne room and hopefully find some answers.

Princess Celestia paced around her throne room, any onlooker would only see the calm and collected Princess just as she normally is going about her day.

This was not the case however, she was worried, scared even.

Something had happened, some disturbance in the natural magic of Equestria. It felt wrong to her, like some slimy creature was slithering over her skin, making her feel almost violated.

She had summoned the living embodiments of the Elements of Harmony to try and help her figure out what could have caused such a ripple in the magic of Equestria. The doors slammed open, and a warm smile drifted onto the face of the Princess.

Her student ran up to her and began to nuzzle her, she was more then happy to return the favour.

“Twilight, I'm glad to see you. I'm sure you have all been wondering why I have called you here.” Simple to say, there was a unanimous nod between the group.

“Twilight have you noticed anything strange with the natural magic of the world?” Twilight began to ponder this question.

“I guess there have been some strange things happening at the moment, but no Princess, I haven’t noticed anything wrong with magic in the area.” Twilight shook her head disappointed that she didn’t have an answer for her mentor.

However Celestia looked slightly shocked at this, “What sort of strange things?” She questioned.

“Well,” Twilight began telling her mentor the story of how both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie both dreamed about the same strange blue flames, and how they both knew there was something they were forgetting with the dream, something terrible.

“Twilight this is most disturbing, but I was wondering, where is the Element of Kindness? Where is Fluttershy?”

Twilight looked visibly shaken at this, Applejack took this opportunity to answer for her. “We don’t rightly know what has happened to her, your highness. We couldn’t wake her up this morn'in.”

“I remember winning in my dream, perhaps the same thing happened to her, and she lost,” added Pinkie Pie, her mane straight as it was when she was a filly.

“Fluttershy would never lose to a dream!” shouted Rainbow, annoyed at the fact that Pinkie could even suggest such a thing, “but the strange thing is that I remember also, it was as if I was tested but I passed.”

“Winning, in a dream?” Celestia began to muse over this information, such things were not unheard of, at least in the realms of dream magic; however, this magic was difficult and not obtainable by a normal unicorn.

Twilight could of done it with a lot of effort, but she would never attack her own friends. This made no sense to the Princess of the Sun.

“This is troubling news indeed. If somepony is using dream magic to invade the minds of the Elements of Harmony, they would have be very powerful indeed. That might have been the cause of the magical disturbances, as dream magic is no easy task.”

“Is there anything can do, anyway we can help Fluttersh....” Before Twilight could finish her sentence an emerald green light appeared, and began to blind everyone within the room, even the Princess of the Sun.

As the light began to dim, sight returned to the stunned ponies in the room. Shock filled them all as they noticed they were no longer alone in the room.

“Greetings Tia. My, my, how you have grown since the last time that I saw you,” the new voice was soft almost motherly, it put even Celestia to shame.

“Who are you and how do you know the Princess,” before anyone could react, Rainbow Dash had rushed towards the intruder trying to size her up.

The new pony in the room had a coat as green as verdant grass, and a mane of such deep emerald it put even the gemstone to shame. She had no wings or horn, so the whole room was puzzled on how an earth pony had managed to teleport alone into the chamber. That, however, was quickly forgotten as they realized for an earth pony she was as tall as Celestia, if not slightly taller.

Her cutie mark was that of a great tree, with roots plunged deep into the ground with vines running down to the bottom of her legs. It was as if her cutie mark was covering her whole body with live plants.

The air around her felt like a summer's breeze on a warm day in the middle of a great forest, and her mane flowed as if there were small woodland creatures frolicking within.

The wide eyed Princess of the Sun began to walk slowly towards the new voice stuttering, Twilight had never seen her mentor like this before.

“M..m.mmm..Mother?” Celestia barely managed to get out, just louder than a whisper.

“MOTHER!?” the occupants shouted at the same time.

“This can’t be possible, you have been gone for almost three thousand years. We had no idea where you went, that one day you upped and vanished.” Celestia, normally cool and collected, was overflowing with emotions.

“My sunshine, I am sorry I had to do that to you and Luna, but it had to be done. You had to take responsibility for the world as our time grew to an end. We agreed that after the windigo problem, we had to step back as too much of our power was leaking into this world causing more harm than good.” The mare seemed sad at this, but resolute.

“Wait a second,” spoke Twilight, “Princess Celestia never talked about her parents. And the windigoes were caused by hate between the three tribes!” Twilight was not impressed that everything she knew about her mentor, and even the history of the world, was shattered.

“Ah, I feel that I should introduce myself to your subjects, my dear daughter. My name is Terra Blossom, mother of the earth and goddess of life, and mother of the celestial twins.” Twilight was shocked to see all of this, but had no reason to disbelieve what Terra was saying.

However, Twilight saw some things that were not adding up. “If you are a goddess, then why are you not an alicorn.” Terra began to laugh, but in a gentle way.

“Little one, would it make you feel better if I was?” Twilight nodded her head, and before she could react the earth pony before her grew large wing that looked like leaves of a great tree and a horn that twisted in on itself like grizzled bark.

Afterwards she began to speak again, “Is this better?” she smiled. Twilight could only nod quietly after seeing such a feat.

“I understand why not being an alicorn would make you mistrust me as you have only ever known great beings of pony kind to be thus, but no I am not an alicorn, rather something more. I am the essence of the earth itself. And it is also my pleasure to be the goddess of earth ponies.”

“So you mean that you're the reason earth ponies are so good with the fields?” Applejack asked the new goddess.

“Indeed, it has always been my pleasure to watch you tend to the earth so well.” nodded the verdant alicorn.

“Celestia, if that is the case then is it also true for unicorns and pegasi?” Twilight questioned her mentor, always hungry for new knowledge even in times like this.

The Sun Princess nodded, “ My uncles are the living spirits of order and chaos, Unicorns belonged to the realm of chaos once, as they were so aloof and magic has always been a chaotic force in the world. However, Pegasi once belonged to the realm of order, warlike they took pride in knowing that they could win anything with a bit of planning and help from the weather.”

Terra began to giggle, “If my brothers could see their children now, Pegasi loving freedom and unicorns studying and learning, they would have a heart attack.”

“We hardly need more chaos anyways, after uncle crafted discord as a laugh” Celestia was not impressed at that.

Terra’s smile quickly melted off her face, as she remembered the reason she had come in the first place. “Pleasantries aside, I come with a warning for you, and your ponies, my dear Tia. When we left this world, we had sacrificed our powers to seal ourselves away, my brothers did not like this and refused at first.

Terra sighed. “After seeing the torment that our bickering was causing on you ponies, the God of Order and myself agreed to the fact. If we had never started fighting each other then the windigoes would have never been brought into existence, and would never of forced you all from your homes.” she looked almost sad now.

“However, chaos is as chaos does, and he didn't want to be confined to another plane. He felt like he still had much work do. So sadly, we were forced to seal him using force, breaking more of his power than was needed.”

Terra trotted to the window and began to look into the distance. “We should have never done that, but order was adamant that it had to be done. I realize now he was as bad as chaos, and I have never fully forgiven myself for it. However, my brother is now doing something I can’t overlook. And although I promised that I would never get involved again, I have come to give you and your ponies a warning.”

“He's the one behind the attacks on my friends isn't he?” Twilight asked.

Terra nodded, “ Indeed he is, he is trying to use the elements of harmony for his own means to restore the power that was once lost to him.”

“So why hasn't Fluttershy woken up, what has he done to her!” Rainbow began to yell.

“I'm so sorry, I felt so bad for him. I started talking to him and he claimed he wanted to test you all, to see if you were really worthy of the elements. I  realised too late, he wasn't testing you at all, he was breaking you in order to steal your elements. He almost won with the element of kindness but before he could get the whole element, it fought back.”

“Fought back?” Celestia asked.

“Indeed, her element sealed her mind way into her body to protect her from more harm. Do not worry she will wake up after a period of time, how long however I do not know, she lost something in his realm.” Terra sighed once again

“She lost a shard of her element, he can use this shard to restore his power if he is ignored long enough. So I give you this choice, you can go and recover what Fluttershy lost  in order to restore her quickly or leave her to recover on her own. If you choose to stop my brother in the mean time that is your choice but I give you the key to do so.”

With that Terra shed a single tear which quickly turned to gemstone.

“Take this gem and travel to the depths of my daughters old castle in the Everfree forest, there you will find three mirrors, we gifted these to them as we left. These mirrors are the entrances to our realms where our power is sealed. Hold the crystal to the mirror of chaos and you will be able to enter his realm for a short time.”

With this she said her goodbyes and was gone in the same emerald light as she came, nary a trace.

The girls began to look at each other a look of both fear and determination on their faces, “Time to save the world again?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Seems like it.” answered Twilight.