Chapters PROLOGUE: Love And Tragedy
1,011 Years Ago
It was Monday. Two mares lay in the grass, looking up at the clouds. One was dark blue with blue hair. The other was white with silver hair.
"Oh, look." said the white mare, pointing up at a loud. "Looks like a duck."
"And that one looks like a cat."
The two giggled.
"You know, Aura..." said the dark blue mare. "It's days like this I look forward to. When the two of us can get together... and hang out."
"Me, too, Moonbeam... Me, too."
Moonbeam looked to her left at Aura, and Aura looked to her right.
"There's no place I'd rather be more than with you." said Moonbeam.
Aura smiled. The two then leaned in to kiss when a red foal with blue hair ran up to them.
"Hey, I-- Oh." she said, stopping. "Am I--"
"Interrupting?" asked Aura. "Yes."
"Oh, don't be mean." said Moonbeam. "She's your sister."
Aura groaned. "What do you want, Amber?"
"Well, uh... I was thinking we could... play later?" asked the foal. "I'm bored and need somepony to play with."
"Yeah, yeah..." said Aura. "Later."
Amber smiled. "Yay."
"Now, can you..." Aura started to say, motioning to Moonbeam with her head.
"Oh. Right." said Amber. "Sorry. I'll just... go..."
"Yeah."
"Okay... See ya, sis."
"See ya." said Aura.
"See ya, Moonbeam."
Moonbeam smiled and waved before Amber turned and trotted away.
"Finally." said Aura.
"Don't be so hard on her." said Moonbeam. "She's a sweet kid."
"I know she is. But we hardly get the chance to see each other anymore, and... I want to spend every second I have with you."
Moonbeam smiled as the two closed their eyes and kissed.
Later That Night...
Aura lay in her bed, trying to get some sleep when she heard her bedroom door creak open. She turned in her bed and let out a sleepy groan.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Sis?" asked Amber, slowly trotting in.
"Amber? What is it? What do you want?"
The filly stood beside the bed, looking up at her sister.
"You're not still mad about before, are you?"
Aura let out a sigh. "Come here." she said, pulling the covers back a bit.
Amber jumped up on the bed and slid under the covers. Aura tucked her in and got her comfy.
"Amber... I'm not mad at you. It's just that I don't get to see Moonbeam as often as I'd like. And... well... I like her."
"Like... like like?" asked Amber. Aura nodded. "Ohhh..."
"I love you, little sister... but when I'm with Moonbeam... I'd like to spend all the time I can with her... because I like like her."
"I understand." said Amber.
"But, I don't see her tomorrow. So, we have all day to play."
Amber smiled. "Really?"
"Really really."
"Okay." said Amber. "Then, I'm gonna sleep so tomorrow comes faster."
"You do that." said Aura, rubbing her nose against Amber's.
The little filly let out a giggle.
"Love ya, sis." said Amber, getting out of Aura's bed.
"Love ya, too."
Amber headed for the door.
"Amber?" asked Aura.
Amber stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"
"Any pony giving you trouble about your... special talent?"
Amber's smiled faded slightly. "Yeah. But, it's nothing I can't handle."
"Well, if they ever give you any trouble, come to me, okay?"
Amber nodded. "Yeah." She backed out of the room. "Night."
"Night, sis."
Amber left the room and stood in the hall, thinking.
A male foal shoved Amber into a tree. The filly let out a grunt.
"What's wrong freak?" asked the male foal.
Amber put a hoof to her head as she felt blood. Tears filled her eyes.
"Why don't you use your freakish powers and fight back?" asked a second foal.
Amber began shedding tear after tear as she looked at the three foals.
"S-Stop..." she whimpered.
"Stop?" asked the third foal. "You gonna make us?" he asked, shoving her again.
"I said... STOP!" yelled Amber.
The three foals were knocked backwards and slid across the grass. Amber stood and cried for another second before running away.
A tear fell from the filly's eye as she headed down the hall to her room. Once there, she got in bed and pulled the covers up.
"Why me?" she whimpered.
It was about an hour or so before she finally managed to cry herself to sleep.
The Next Day...
Amber and Aura headed out into the filed and looked up at the sky.
"Beautiful day, isn't it?" said Aura.
Amber ran a few feet away and began rolling in the grass and chasing butterflies, giggling and laughing as she did so. Aura sat under a nearby tree and watched, smiling and enjoying that her sister was having fun. After a few minutes, Amber ran over and jumped on Aura, knocking her over. The two laughed and giggled.
"You're the best, sis." said Amber, hugging Aura.
"Oh, Amber... I feel the same way." said Aura, hugging back.
"I wish we can do this every day."
"We have our whole life." said Aura. We have all the time we need... because we'll always be together."
"Always together." said Amber, smiling.
8 Years Later...
"I'm going out!" Amber yelled, heading for the front door.
Aura ran over. "Okay, just... be careful, alright? You were bullied a lot when you were a kid. When you found your... special talent. I just--"
"Sis." Amber interrupted. "I'm 16. I think I can handle myself." she said, opening the door.
"Right." said Aura. "Of course."
Amber smiled and headed out. "See ya later."
Aura stood in the doorway and watched her sis trot off.
"Yeah... See ya."
Amber arrived at the border of the village. There was an abandoned shack there which she liked to visit as a foal. She opened the door and stepped inside, looking around. A smile spread across her face as she walked around the shack. Candles were set up around the edge and there was a grandfather clock next to the doorway. She stood in front of the clock and ran a hoof across its smooth surface. It wobbled slightly due to its left legs being worn and weal from age. When she was done, she headed back to the front door and opened it. Three colts who bullied her were standing there.
"Hello, Amber." said the brown one.
Amber let out a gasp.
Aura was pacing back and forth, worrying about her sister.
"I'm sure she's fine." she reassured herself. "She's fine."
The brown colt shoved Amber, who stumbled backwards.
"Remember us, freak?" asked the colt.
Amber had a frightened look on her face as she tried to run passed them.
"Please, let me go!" she yelled.
The colt blocked her and shoved her back inside, slamming the door shut. The force from the slam caused the clock to tip over, blocking the door.
"Bet she's scared, now, huh?" asked the colt.
The other two snickered.
Amber had stumbled backwards into two candle stands. The flames set the wooden floors on fire. Amber looked around in fright.
"No! Somepony help!" she screamed.
The colts outside were laughing until they smelled smoke.
"Is that... smoke?" asked the yellow colt.
"I... I-I'm sure it's nothing." the brown colt stammered.
Amber let out a scream and ran to the clock to try and push it out of the way. It wouldn't budge. When it fell, it had broken through a weak spot in the floor and was stuck.
"HELP!!!" yelled the mare. "PLEASE!!!"
The yellow colt and the blue colt looked at the brown one.
"We have to help her!" said the blue colt.
The brown colt took a step back.
The fire spread across the floor, weakening the floorboards and causing two more candle stands to tip over. Those caused two more to fall. Amber tried using her ability but a rafter from the ceiling fell on top of her. She let out a yelp as she was pinned to the floor. Tears streamed down her face when she suddenly heard a deep, dark voice.
"Amber..." it said. "Looks like you could use some help."
"Who... Who's there?"
Aura stopped pacing.
"I'm gonna check on her." she said, heading for the door.
Amber tried to open her eyes but the heat from the fire was getting intense.
"I can help..." said the dark voice. "if you'll let me..."
"Then... help... me..." said Amber, weakly.
"But, I need something in return."
"An... Anything..."
"I can give you the power to take your vengeance upon this world... in exchange for your eternal servitude."
"Eternal... servi... tude?"
"Yes. I have created a Demon Realm called the Neatherworld... and I need somepony to be in charge."
Amber couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. The heat was burning them.
"Any... thing... Just... please... Help me..."
"Excellent." echoed the voice.
Aura arrived at the burning shack and stared wide-eyed in horror. "WHAT'S GOING ON??!!!"
The colts looked at her.
"I-It was an accident!" yelled the brown colt. "I-I didn't..."
Amber was suddenly struck with an invisible force. A strange new energy coursed through her body, causing her great pain. She let out a yell as black smoke shot from her eyes and mouth.
"SIS?!" yelled Aura. "AMBER!!!"
She ran towards the shack.
"AMBER!!!"
A burst of black smoke erupted from Amber, causing the shack to explode. The blast sent wooden shards in every direction. A couple floorboards hit Aura in the face and knocked her out.
When she regained consciousness, she stood and rubbed her head.
"Amber?" she asked. "AMBER?!"
She looked around frantically. There was no pony in sight. Both her sister and the colts were gone.
"AMBER!!!!!" she yelled. "AMBER!!!!"
2012, Present Day
Kyra, a red mare with long black hair, sat at a stone table in a stone chair. Her head was resting on her hoof which was resting on the table. She was tapping the table with her other hoof. A sigh of boredom escaped her mouth. She was in a large, circular, black-stone room. There were stairs at the edge of the room that spiraled downwards. A bed on the opposite side. There was an archway between the stairs and her bed that led outside to a balcony. The balcony circled the room on the outside, giving Kyra a view of every direction. The land outside was heavily tinted with the color red as if the land itself were on fire.
The red mare was thinking about the past...
Amber couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. The heat was burning them.
"Any... thing... Just... please... Help me..."
"Excellent." echoed the voice.
Amber was suddenly struck with an invisible force. A strange new energy coursed through her body, causing her great pain. She let out a yell as black smoke shot from her eyes and mouth. A burst of black smoke erupted from her, causing the shack to explode. The blast sent wooden shards in every direction. Amber sat up and let out a loud gasp for air. Her skin had changed from a light red to a dark red. Her hair was longer blue, but black. And her eyes, red. She looked around. She saw her sister unconscious and trotted over to her. She then looked to the right and saw the three colts who bullied her. Her eyes narrowed as she trotted towards them. They stared at her, wide-eyed in fear as she got closer.
Their screams of pain echoed in her head as she stood up and headed outside on the balcony. She looked out over her land of Demons. The land itself looked as though it was falling apart. Large portions seemed missing, leaving only narrow walkways in some parts. Some walkways were merely bridges and some of the sections of solid land were merely floating rock islands. Boiling lava and fire burned below. Black ponies trotted about. The Demon Ponies that inhabited this world.
Kyra heard a noise behind behind her.
"That you, Deva?" she asked, sounding either depressed or lost in thought.
"You always manage to impress me." said a gray mare, smiling deviously.
She trotted up next to her and rested her forelegs on the railing. She looked almost exactly like Kyra but with a shorter mane and tail.
"Everything okay?" asked Kyra.
"Yeah. Nopony's looking to take you on, Kyra. They're all afraid."
"Good... Good... And you?"
"Me?" asked Deva.
Yeah." said Kyra. She looked at the gray mare. "You."
"I have no reason to be... Do I?"
Kyra smiled deviously. "No, I guess not." she said, looking out at the land again. "So long as you do what you're supposed to."
"My loyalty lies with you, Kyra." she said. "I have no intention of turning against you."
"Happy to hear that, Deva. But, I am worried about your sister."
"Amante?" asked Deva.
Kyra nodded. "She just became an Elite not too long ago, and I think it's going to her head."
"Not sure about that, but... If it makes you feel any better, I'll keep an eye on her."
"That'd be helpful, thanks." said Kyra. "How is she doing in that place I made for her?"
"Her, uh... fun ... house?" asked Deva. "She's, uh... having fun ."
"Good. That should keep her mischievousness to a limited location... Don't want a repeat of last time."
"You mean when she... had her way with a group of--"
"Yes, Deva. I remember it well."
The gray Demon nodded. "So... How's your project coming?"
"It's going well, actually." said Kyra, turning and heading back inside. "I should now be able to cross realms."
"Are you gonna try it?" asked Deva, following her.
"Of course." said Kyra, turning to face her. "Right now."
"Right now?"
Kyra nodded. "Keep an eye on things for me while I'm gone."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that." said Deva. "I got ya covered."
"Right, then... See ya later..."
Kyra concentrated until her eyes turned red and she burst into a cloud of black smoke that soon disappeared.
Kyra suddenly appeared in an alley and looked around.
"Wood and brick." she said. She ran he hoof across the side of the building. "I'm in the right place."
She slowly crept to the edge of the alley and peered out. A colorful assortment of ponies walked by, going about their business. There were homes and businesses everywhere, but one caught her eye. The one across the street. Sugarcube Corner. She left the alley and nonchalantly trotted up to Sugarcube Corner. Once there, she opened the door and entered. She was suddenly filled with disgust at all the cheery and frilly decor, along with the depictions of sweets. Just then a mare trotted up to her. She was a magenta mare with purple and pink hair.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm new in town." said Kyra. "Looking for a place to stay. Know any?"
"Sorry, no."
Kyra looked around. "Nice place you got here. You here alone?"
"No." said the mare. "My big sis and I run this place ever since the Cakes moved away."
"I see... And who's your sister?"
"Pinkamena Diane Pie. Why?"
Kyra eyed her. "Pinkamena?"
"Um... Yeah... Heard of her?"
Kyra hesitated before sitting down. "Is she around?"
"She's... downstairs."
"Can you tel her I'd like to see her?"
The mare hesitated before heading to the basement stairs. "If you want."
The mare disappeared for a few seconds before approaching hoofsteps could be heard. Kyra watched the spot where the mare had gone when she suddenly saw a pink mare with long magenta hair appear. She headed towards the table that Kyra was at. The other mare appeared, too, and trotted over as well.
"My sister said you wanted to see me?" she said questioningly.
Kyra smiled. "Hello, Pinkamena. So... this is what you look like." she said, looking Pinkamena up and down. The pink mare stared at her, confused. "You have the look of a killer but your home is... sad."
"Killer?" asked Pinkamena. "I don't know what you're--"
Kyra's eyes flashed red and Pinkamena shut up. The red mare stood up.
"I know who you really are, Pinkie... " said Kyra, staring her down. "I know what you do. Stop lying to me."
Pinkamena's half-smile faded into a frown and her eyes became narrow. "Who are you?"
"Me?" asked Kyra. "I'm the one that goes bump in the night."
"You say you know who I am and what I do... So, why shouldn't I kill you right now?"
Kyra grinned. "Go ahead and try it."
Pinkamena hesitated before pulling her knife from her mane and lunging at Kyra. She swung the knife but, to her surprise, hit thin air. She looked around the room. Kyra had vanished. Just then she heard a chilling laugh.
"You'll have to do much better than that, mortal." said Kyra.
Pinkamena whipped around to see Kyra leaning against the counter.
"How'd you do that?" asked the pink mare. "And why'd you refer to me as 'mortal'?"
"Don't you know what I am?" asked Kyra. "I'm a Demon Pony-- Well... Actually, the leader of the Demon Ponies."
"Demons?" asked Pinkamena and Cherry in unison.
Kyra suddenly appeared directly in front of them. "Yes. Demon."
Cherry stared. "That... was... cool!"
"That's nothing."
"So, what do you want?" asked Pinkamena.
"A place to stay while I'm in town." said Kyra.
"You can have the Cakes' old room?" said Cherry questioningly.
"Fine." said the pink mare. "Up the stairs. To the left... Last door on the right."
"Thank you." said Kyra. "Now, what do you mortals do for fun?"
"Weren't you ever a mortal, uh..." said Cherry.
"Kyra. And I haven't been in this realm in a little over a thousand years."
"A thousand years?" asked Pinkamena. "Did you see the conflict between the princesses?"
"No, I died 3 years before that even--"
Just then the door opened and Rainbow Dash dashed in. She skidded to a stop when she saw Kyra and the knife that Pinkamena had. The mare's angry face said it all.
"Oh, my goddess. she said, stunned.
She then turned to dart away but was grabbed by an invisible forced and slammed face-first into the wall. She was thun spun around and found herself face to face with the red mare.
"Please, don't hurt me." pleaded Dash. "I-I won't tell anypony."
"Oh, I know you won't." said Kyra.
"P-Please... I just came to find help. There's been an accident!"
Kyra stared at her. "What kind of accident."
"My friend, Twilight Sparkle... I-I don't know what happened. We were coming back from the Everfree Forest when a tree collapsed, a-and... She's pinned."
"Pinned, huh?"
Dash nodded. "She doesn't have long. Please, help her." said Dash, tearing up.
Pinkamena trotted up beside Kyra. "It's okay. This is Rainbow Dash... She's a friend, Kyra."
The Demon let out a sigh as her eyes flashed red again.
"Tell nopony." she said.
"I-I promise." said Dash softly. "Just help Twilight."
Kyra stared in her eyes and suddenly felt... something. She wasn't quite sure what.
"Okay." she finally said, gently setting Rainbow Dash back on the floor.
The cyan mare hesitated before trotting out the door. Kyra followed her with Pinkamena and Cherry close behind.
"Something wrong, Kyra?" asked Cherry.
"What do you mean?"
"It's just... back there... when you had Rainbow Dash up against the wall... You had this... look."
Kyra eyed her and then Rainbow Dash. "I felt something. Something I haven't felt in a thousand years... Something my sister used to talk about..."
"Sister?"
"I don't remember her much. Only I saw her unconscious, but... after I took care of the bullies, I... I was sucked into the Netherworld."
"Netherworld?" asked Cherry.
"The Demon Realm. I only just gained the power to cross realms today. But... my sister's long dead, now... I miss her so much sometimes that it's hard to sleep. But, there's something inside me that makes me not seem to care as much as I used to."
"Wow... The life of a Demon." said Cherry. "Sure is a complicated one."
"Oh, you have no idea." She found herself staring at Rainbow's flank. She then let out a groan and looked away. "I'm the leader of the Demon Ponies. I shouldn't have these feelings."
"But, do you?"
Kyra looked back at Rainbow Dash. "Yes."
They finally arrived at the edge of the Everfree where the accident happened. Rainbow Dash ran to join the others. Kyra, Pinkamena, and Cherry trotted over. The Demon mare stood next to Twilight and knelt down. The purple mare looked up at her with half-open eyes.
"Wh... Who are you?" she asked weakly.
"I'm... gonna try to save you." said Kyra, taking a quick glance at Rainbow Dash.
She suddenly felt sorry for her, knowing full well that Twilight couldn't survive this and that she was not yet familiar with the Heal technique.
"Please..." said Twilight weakly.
Kyra lifted the tree, much to the shock of the others, and threw it to the side. Twilight let out a gasp for air. Kyra stood up and went over to Dash.
"Dash... I'm afraid she hasn't got long... I'm... sorry..."
Tears filled Dash's eyes. "No... There has to be something..."
"The Demons do have a healing technique, but... I've spent most of the time I had learning the Realm Vortex... I think you should use the time you have left to... to say good-bye."
Rainbow Dash nodded and went over to Twilight. She and the others gathered around her and knelt down. Dash took Twilight's hoof. Kyra rejoined Pinkamena and Cherry.
"This brings back... painful memories." she said.
"What kind of memories?" asked Cherry.
Kyra hesitated. "I wasn't always like this. I was normal, like you. One day I decide to visit my favorite place in town. This old, abandoned shack." Kyra smiled. "My parents would take me there when I was sad and said that... I could cry all I want and not have to worry about others seeing or hearing. Well... on my way out, I was attacked by these bullies. It resulted in the shack b... burning up. I saw my sister unconscious, but... I was too busy bent on revenge that, when I had killed those bullies... I was immediately sucked into the Netherworld. I had gotten my vengeance, and now it was time for me deliver on my end of the deal..." She looked over at Dash holding Twilight's hoof. "At least she gets to say good-bye..."
Twilight let out a gasp until her eyes closed, the last of her breath escaping through her mouth. Dash began to sob harder, as did the others. Kyra went over to Rainbow Dash and hesitantly put a hoof on her shoulder. The cyan mare instantly spun around and hugged her, sobbing. Kyra didn't know what to do. Her whole life, she dealt with anger, rage, and frustration... Now, she had a mare crying into her chest because her best friend had just died. She started to have that feeling again, and she wrapped her hooves around Dash, comforting her. Dash looked up into her eyes and Kyra stared back.
"I know what it feels like, Dash." said Kyra. "To lose somepony you care for." She gently patted the cyan mare on the back. "Ever need to talk... I'll listen."
Rainbow Dash smiled slightly. "Thank you." she sobbed, burying her face in Kyra's chest again.
Pinkamena, Cherry, and Kyra arrived back at Sugarcube Corner. The Demon Pony let out a yell and threw a chair into the wall.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!" she yelled.
"Wh-What do you mean?" asked Cherry.
"I used to be ruthless! I would tear a pony's limbs off one by one! BUT, NOW??!!! NO!!! Something's happening to me. I-I-I-I-I... I'm starting to feel... To care..." She paused. "Rainbow Dash... That pegasus..."
"I think sh'es snapping." said Pinkamena, heading into the kitchen.
"What about Dash?" asked Cherry.
"I felt a connection..." said Kyra. "The same one my sister talked about."
"You mean..."
Kyra eyed her. "I... think... so..." She let out a sigh. "This just keeps getting better and better."
Just then there was a knock at the door as it slowly opened. Kyra and Cherry looked towards it as Rainbow Dash stepped in.
"Um..." she said somewhat nervously. "Can... Can we... hang out?" she asked Kyra. "I... I don't wanna be alone right now."
Kyra wanted to resist but something inside wouldn't let her. She nodded and turned to Cherry.
"Tell Pinkamena I'll be back later."
Cherry nodded. "All right."
Kyra turned to Rainbow Dash and followed her outside.
The two mares were seated at a wooden table. A unicorn mare came over and set down two smoothies on the table.
"What's this?" asked Kyra, taking her glass and looking inside.
"It's a smoothie." said Rainbow Dash, sounding upset.
Kyra slid the glass to the side. "So, uh... Silly question, but, uh... how are you--"
"Not good." said Dash. "Twilight was like my best friend... I just can't believe she's gone."
"Yeah, I'm, uh... sorry."
"Something wrong with you ?" asked Dash.
"No, um... It's just that I've been a Demon Pony for a little more than a thousand years, and... I've grown unaccustomed to mortal emotions..." She looked Dash in the eye. "All but one."
"Which one?"
Kyra leaned back in her chair and looked away. It was about a second or two, which seemed like minutes, before she responded.
"You believe in love at first sight, Dash?" she asked.
"What, you mean you've found..." She stopped when Kyra looked at her. "Me?" The Demon continued to stare at her. "But... why m--"
"I don't-- I don't know..." Kyra interrupted. "I don't mean to come on so strong, but... like I said, this is new to me... And you just lost your--"
"No, it's..." said Dash. "It's fine, I... I'm just a little surprised."
"I know. You just lost your friend, and... I may be a Demon but even I know that it's too soon..."
Dash placed a hoof on Kyra's. "There's something I wanna show you."
"What?" asked Kyra.
"Follow me."
Kyra and Dash stood on a grassy hill at the edge of cliff. Below was a luscious valley with shimmering pools of water. Kyra stared in awe.
"I've never seen anything so..."
"Beautiful?" asked Dash. "I come here whenever I'm depressed. Always seems to cheer me up... except for today."
"We don't have things like this in the Netherworld." said Kyra. "Just fire and death."
Rainbow looked at her. The Demon's mane glistening in the sunlight.
Kyra looked at her. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just... You look..."
Kyra noticed her mane. "Oh. It does that sometimes. Happened all the time when I was growing up."
"Really? Were you happy growing up?"
"Yes..."
"So, it only happens when you're happy..."
"That makes sen--"
She was cut off when Dash leaned in and kissed her. She pulled away after a few seconds.
"Oh, uh... I-I'm sorry..." Dash apologized. "I wasn't--"
This time, Kyra was the one to initiate a kiss. Dash went wide-eyed, before closing her eyes and leaning into the kiss. They soon parted.
"So, that's what it feels like." said Kyra.
Dash smiled. "Yeah..."
Kyra thought for a second. "Dash... I'm gonna make you a promise... that I'm gonna do whatever it takes to bring your friend back."
"T... Twilight? You can bring her back?"
"There's a skill we Demons know that can revive the dead. I, myself, have not practiced it... but, if you give me time... I promise you... you will see her again."
Dash smiled and hugged her. "Thank you."
Kyra closed her eyes and hugged back. "You're welcome."
93 Years Ago...
A peach-colored young mare with yellow hair, around 10 years old, ran into the living room and jumped onto her sister, who was laying on the couch. She let out an "oof".
"Blossom..." said the mare. "What are you..."
"Can we play a game, sis?" asked Blossom. "Pleeeeaaase..."
The mare let out a long sigh. "Fine. What would you like to play?"
"Hide And Seek."
Her sister stared at her for a few seconds.
"Go hide." she finally said.
Blossom let out a gleeful squeal and took off. The mare rolled over.
"1... 2... 3... 4..."
Blossom ran into her bedroom and looked around.
"No... Too obvious."
She ran back out into the hallway.
"11... 12... 13..."
Blossom arrived in the storage room. She looked around the room, her eyes resting on a trunk. The lock had been broken for a couple years now, so there was no danger of getting locked in.
"Perfect..." she said with a smile.
"20! Ready or not... here I come!" the mare called out, getting up from the couch.
She checked all of downstairs, which included Blossom's bedroom and the bathroom. She then made her way upstairs and checked all the rooms.
Blossom covered her mouth when she heard her sister enter the room. She could hear the mare checking behind boxes and whatnot. She then approached the chest and tried to open it. It wouldn't.
"That's odd." said the mare. "Thought the lock was broken."
Blossom let out a gasp
"Girls!" yelled their mother's voice. "Time for dinner!"
"Coming!" the mare yelled back, running out of the room.
"H-Hey!" yelled Blossom. "Get me outta here!"
The mare sat down at the kitchen table.
"Where's Blossom?" asked the mother.
"Not sure. We were playing Hide And Seek, and..."
"Well, I'm sure she'll come out when she gets hungry."
Blossom continued banging on the chest.
"PLEASE!!!" she cried. SOMEPONY HELP!"
She started to panic, looking around for anything that may be useful. Nothing in the trunk but her. She let out a cry of fear and started kicking frantically.
"NO!!!" she wailed.
"Mom?" asked the mare. "Did you get the lock fixed on that trunk upstairs?"
"The one in the storage room? No. It's still broken, why?"
"Couldn't get it open."
3 Days Later...
The mother lay in her bed, crying. The older sister stood in the doorway.
"Lilly?" asked the mother.
"I'm here, mom."
The mother hesitated. "Where could she have gone?"
"I don't--"
"Why weren't you watching her?"
Lilly stared at her mother, taken aback by her comment. "Wh... What?"
"You were supposed to be watching her!" the mother cried. "This is your fault!"
Blossom lay still in the chest. Her throat dry from the depravity of water. Her breaths came out in wheezes.
"This is all your fault!" she heard her mother yell at her sister.
"S... Sis..." she wheezed, a tear falling from her eye. "It's... not your... fault..."
Her eyes closed as she let out her last gasp for air.
Blossom opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around and let out a yell of fright. She was in some fiery world with black ponies trotting about.
"Wh... What's going on?" she thought aloud.
"You're in the Netherworld." said a voice. Blossom looked over her shoulder. "The Realm Of Demons... Welcome."
"D... Demons?" asked Blossom.
The mare nodded. "Look at yourself."
A gothic mirror appear in front of blossom, blocking her view from the mare. She saw that she, herself, had changed. Her skin was now black and her hair was gray. Her eyes had also become red.
"Wh-What?!" yelled Blossom in surprise.
The mirror shattered and disappeared. The mare was gone. Blossom suddenly felt a hoof on her back.
"You're dead, kid." said the mare.
Blossom let out a gasp. "Mom... Sis... Gone... Alone..." She started crying.
The mare knelt down next to her. "You're one of the youngest Demons in this realm..." she said, almost thought-like. She let out a sigh. "Listen, uh..."
"Blossom."
"Blossom. How would you like to live with me?"
Blossom hesitated before filling up with what was left of her happiness.
"You... You mean it?"
The mare nodded. "But, you're gonna need a new name. Ponies usually change their name when they become a Demon."
"Change it? To what?"
The mare thought for a second. "For some reason... the word 'malice' has always been one of my favorites."
"Malice?"
The mare nodded. "I like it... Malice..."
Blossom thought for a second. "O... Okay... Malice it is."
She seemed uncertain by this. The mare stood up.
"Don't worry, Malice." she said. "You'll get used to it."
Blossom rubbed the tears from her eyes and nodded. The mare started to trot away.
"So..." said Blossom, standing up and following the mare. "What's your name?"
The mare looked down at her. "I'm Kyra."
2012, 1 Week Later...
Rainbow Dash was knelt in front of a tombstone. She had been coming here for the past 6 days.
"Hey, Dash." she said, kneeling down net to the cyan mare.
"Kyra... Did you..."
The red mare nodded. "Took a bit longer than expected, but... I know what to do."
"Does this mean we can get Twilight back?" Dash asked, filling up with hope.
Kyra looked concerned. "Dash... This may be harder than I originally thought."
"What do you mean?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"In order for Resurrection to work on a pure soul like your friend's... one must be sacrificed in place of the deceased. Some pony you've met."
Dash stared at her in shock. "What?"
"Some pony has to die." Dash looked away. "However..." She looked back. "If I resurrect an evil soul, like one in the Netherworld, I wouldn't need a sacrifice. I could then sacrifice him to save your friend. Luckily there are a few Demons that are eligible."
"Then... let's go." said Dash, standing up.
Kyra stood up, too. "Hold on, Dash." she said. "The Netherworld is... dangerous... for mortals."
Dash leaned in and kissed Kyra, taking the red mare by surprise. The kiss lasted for a few more seconds until Dash pulled away slightly.
"Anywhere you go, I go." she said.
"Wh... Wha... You like me that much?"
"I've missed you these past six days." said Dash. "It was only yesterday when I realized... I really like you."
Kyra tilted her head slightly. "Why?"
"You were there for me when I needed somepony. You tried to help. Despite what you are, I can see the good in you."
"There's no good in me."
"If there was no good in you... you wouldn't be helping me."
Kyra looked away and sighed. "Because I wasn't always like this. I had a sister once. She was in love. Moonbeam... I think it was. I always wanted to know what the feeling was like. Only... I never did... I died in fire, screaming out for help, but... no pony came. Only a voice... offering freedom for servitude. I took the offer because... I wasn't ready to die. I then found myself, standing in the rubble, looking like this. My sister lay unconscious." Kyra shook her head. "That was the last time I saw her and my last day in this world... until a week ago..."
"If it's any help... I think you look pretty."
Kyra looked at her. "You do?"
Dash nodded. "That long, black hair..." she said, running a hoof through Kyra's mane. "shimmering in the light... Beautiful, and... pretty awesome."
"Thanks, Dashie." said Kyra.
"So..." said the pegasus slowly. "Can I come?"
Kyra hesitated. "I guess."
"Yay!" said Rainbow, hugging Kyra. She let go. "Come on. Let's go."
The Demon mare stood up. Her eyes glowed red. She reached a hoof out to Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare reached up and placed her hoof on Kyra's.
The world around them suddenly faded away and was replaced with a fiery world. Dash let out a scream and stood up, hugging Kyra. They were outside Kyra's Dark Tower.
"Relax, Dash." said the Demon. "You're safe with me."
Just then Deva dropped down in front of Kyra. Dash let out a yelp but then inhaled and tried to look like she wasn't afraid. Deva leaned in close and sniffed. The gray Demon then pulled back.
"A mortal, Kyra?" asked Deva. "Why haven't you fed off her yet?"
"Because she's a friend." said Kyra.
"A friend? You've befriended a mortal?"
"I can do whatever I please, Deva." said Kyra with a raised voice. "I am your master and you will do as I say."
Deva's eyes narrowed. "Fine. Have it your way..." said Deva, her wings shooting out from her sides. "...master." She took off at an extremely fast speed.
"She... She just... grew wings and... took off..." said Dash, staring.
"Elites have a monstrous form that features wings, sharp teeth... It varies, depending on the Demon." explained Kyra. "And we Elites can access certain features without having to change."
"So, you can fly, too?"
"Yes." said Kyra. She looked around. "Now, we need to find a Demon we can use to bring your friend back."
"Any ideas where to look?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." said Kyra. "Follow me."
The two mares continued walking for about a few minutes before Dash noticed a small Demon following her.
"Uh, Kyra?" asked Dash as the small Demon trotted up beside her and looked up at her. "Wh..."
Kyra looked over. "Oh, that's Malice." she said. "Don't worry. She's harmless."
"Hi, there." said Malice. "Who are you?"
"I-I'm Rainbow Dash."
"Cool name."
"Thanks." said Dash.
Malice continued to look up at her. "I like your mane."
"Um... th--"
"And your tail." interrupted Malice.
"...ank--"
"Colorful." the Demon interrupted again.
"...you..." Dash finally finished.
"You're welcome. It's not every day I meet somepony new."
"H-How old are you?" asked Dash.
"Oh... Let's see... 111 years old."
Dash went wide-eyed. "One-hundred... and eleven?"
"Well, I've been dead for 93 of those years."
"You died... when you were eight?"
Malice nodded. "Yep."
Dash looked away and wiped a tear away. She looked back at Malice.
"H-How?" she asked.
"How'd I die?" asked Malice. "I locked myself in a trunk and died of hunger and thirst."
"That's awful."
"And that's not even the best part."
"Best part?"
Malice nodded. "The lock on the trunk was broken. Was never fixed."
"B... W... H... How did..." Dash stammered.
"I suspect foul play." said Kyra. "I believe it was one of my Demons, though I'm not sure which one."
"Why would somepony want to kill such an innocent foal?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"A Demon."
Deva landed outside a large, spiky structure. It was big enough to hold a small house inside. The Demon trotted up to the door and entered. She was now in a room about the size of an ordinary bedroom. A hallway in front of her that led down and a hallway to the left which led straight into another room. The walls were spike-y and jagged. Deva waited for a second or two before a tall, skinny Demon came up the sloped hallway.
"Well, well, well... If it isn't thy sister." said the Demon.
"Can it, Amante." said Deva. "Something's come up."
"What troubles thee?"
"We were right." said Deva. "Kyra's not fit for leadership. She brought a mortal here, and I think they're friends."
Amante thought for a second. "Well, she's gonna love this. Is thou going to to tell her?"
Deva nodded. "If there's one pony I'm afraid of... it's her."
INTERLUDE: Amante and Deva
1,512 Years Ago...
Two mares ran through the city and then dove behind a stack of crates. Three guards ran passed them. They clapped hooves together and laughed. One was dark green with light green hair. The other was green with white hair.
"That was awesome, Kiwi." said the green mare with white hair.
"Thanks, Minty." said Kiwi.
"Let's get back home before the find us." said Minty.
The two mares arrived back home, giving each other another high-five. Just then the door opened. Their mom stood in the doorway, looking angry.
"What hath thou done this time?" she asked.
"Twas only a joke." said Kiwi.
"A joke?" asked their mother. "Does thou call that a joke?!" she asked, pointing out the window.
A couple blocks away was a pillar of smoke.
"Yes, mother." said Kiwi. "And quite the funny one, as well."
"Thou behavior is unacceptable."
Kiwi let out a groan and sat down at the table. "No sense of humor."
"You two best change thine attitude or you may find thyself in lots of trouble."
Kiwi let out a laugh. "Oh, ye thinks this was bad?" She laughed again. "Thou hasn't seen anything yet."
The mother glared at her.
The next day found the two sisters in the marketplace. They trotted passed a cloaked unicorn mare selling old trinkets. When she wasn't looking, Kiwi snatched a necklace and showed it to Minty.
"Check this out." she said.
"Oh, sis. Thou art a sneaky one."
"You two." said the cloaked mare. "Give back what thine hath taken."
"Taken?" asked Kiwi. "What is thou talking about?"
"Give back what thou stole... or I will punish thee... severely."
Kiwi and Minty burst out laughing.
"Oh, thou is a riot!" laughed Minty as they trotted off.
The cloaked mare glared at them as they walked away laughing.
Later That Night...
Kiwi and Minty were asleep in their beds. Suddenly a noise awoke Kiwi.
"Wh-Who's there?" she groaned, rubbing her eyes. "Mother?"
"Nay." said a familiar voice.
Kiwi's eyes shot open and found herself looking up at the cloaked mare.
"You?!" asked Kiwi, sitting up.
The cloaked mare held a hoof on Kiwi's chest.
"Justice is served." she said.
"What is th..." Kiwi started when she was suddenly sucked into a blue portal.
She let out a scream which woke up Minty.
"Sis?!" she yelled. "You?! What has thou done with my sister?!"
"Give back what thou took from the marketplace. Lest your sister vanish without a trace."
"What?" asked Minty, confused and angry and upset.
The cloaked mare trotted towards the window and climbed out. Minty got out of bed and ran over to it, looking out. The mare was gone.
"Sis..." said Minty. She thought for a second. "The necklace!"
5 a.m., The Next Day...
Minty ran through the marketplace until she found the cloaked mare at her antique stand.
"Ah, look who it is." she said.
"There." said Minty, slamming the necklace down on the table. "Now, give me back thy sister!"
The mare took the necklace. "So... Thou would like to be taken to your sister?"
"Yes!" yelled Minty. "Take me to her!"
The cloaked mare grinned. "As thee wishes..." she said.
Minty suddenly found herself sucked into a blue portal.
Minty slowly opened her eyes. "Where am I?" she groaned.
"Sister?" asked a familiar voice.
Minty stood up and found herself face-to-face with her sister.
"Kiwi?" asked Minty.
Kiwi was no longer all green. She was now gray with black hair and red eyes.
"What hath happened to thee?" asked Minty.
"Don't you mean to us ?" asked Kiwi.
"What?" asked Minty, looking at her forelegs and mane. She was taller and skinnier. She was also gray and black. "What is this?"
"Look around you."
Minty did as her sister said. Fire everywhere. Black ponies trotting about.
"Where did that mare send us, sister?"
"The Netherworld... so I'm told."
"Sister... Why is thou speaking differently?"
Kiwi smiled. "It's been 500 years since I saw you last. A lot has changed."
"500 years?"
Kiwi nodded. "And I'm not Kiwi anymore. I'm now Deva."
"Deva?" asked Minty.
Deva nodded. "And you have a new name, too... according to Kyra."
"Kyra?"
"She runs the place. Anyways... when I told her about you and that you might find a way to get to me, she came up with a name."
"Well... What is it?"
"Amante Alipin May-Ari. Long, I know."
"Well..." said Minty. "What about Amante?"
"Just Amante?" asked Deva. "That'll work."
Amante looked around. "Guess this is our home now."
Deva smiled. "Walk with me, sis. There's a few things you should know about Demons."
2012, Present Day...
Kyra and Dash stood outside a large, black, spiky structure.
"What is this place?" asked Dash.
"This... is a place Demons try to stay away from."
"Why?" asked Dash, as Kyra placed a hoof on the door.
Kyra looked at her. "Amante."
She pushed the door open and entered. Dash followed with Malice close behind. They stood in the bedroom-sized room. A few seconds passed before before a tall, thin, black mare came up from downstairs.
"Well, well, well." said the black mare. "If it isn't Kyra. To what do I the pleasure of thou visit?"
"Amante." said Kyra. "I'm looking to see if you have any impure Demons here."
Amante smiled and leaned against the wall. "Impure, huh? And what does thou want with an impure soul?"
"Is that really any of your business, Amante?" asked Kyra.
The thin Demon smiled and eyed Rainbow Dash. "No... Guess not..."
"So, do you?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." said Amante, pointing down the hall to the left. "Check down there."
"All right." said Kyra. "Come on, Dashie." said Kyra, trotting towards the hallway.
Dash started to follow when Amante appeared next to her and held out a hoof, blocking her. Kyra stopped and turned around.
"Dashie... and the runt... must stay here." said Amante, eyeing the pegasus. Malice's ears folded back in sadness at Amante's comment. "Only you may look."
"K-Kyra?" asked Dash, staring at Amante.
"It'll be okay, Dashie. Just do what she says." Kyra paused. "I'll be back shortly."
She took one last look at Dash before heading down the hallway. Amante started circling Dash.
"So... Dashie..." said Amante with a hint of disgust. "...you're Kyra's pet, huh?"
"N-No..." said Dash, watching her without moving her body. "I-I'm her... friend..."
"Just ... her friend?"
Dash gulped. "Y-Yes..."
Amante shoved Dash into the sharp, spiky wall and held her there by her throat. She got in close enough to the point where Dash could feel her breath.
"DON'T LIE TO ME!!!" yelled the Demon. "I can smell her on you."
"Wh-What're you t-talking about?" asked Dash.
Amante glared before slowly dragging her long tongue up Dash's face. The cyan pegasus groaned in disgust. Amante finished and stared her in the eyes, seeming somewhat angrier.
"You kissed." she said.
Dash let out a gasp. Amante threw her across the room with a yell. The pegasus hit the spiky wall, hard, and collapsed to the floor. Her back was cut a little from the sharp wall.
"Rainbow!" yelled Malice.
Amante turned to face her, causing the little Demon to back up.
"And as for you, runt." said Amante.
Her eyes flashed as Malice was thrown into the wall. The little Demon let out a yelp as she impacted and fell to the floor. Amante trotted towards her as Rainbow Dash looked up. The tall, thin Demon placed a hoof on Malice's body and pressed down hard, causing the mare to yelp in pain.
"Don't... Don't you touch her!" yelled Rainbow Dash.
"Oh, and what're you gonna do about it?" asked Amante, pressing harder.
Malice screamed again as Dash struggled to get up. She focused hard and shot off full speed and slammed into Amante, knocking her off the Demon foal. The cyan mare struggled to get off Amante but couldn't find the strength.
"Thou has got guts, mortal." said Amante. "Attacking an Elite..." She grinned and rolled over on top of Dash. "Perhaps I'll kill thy first."
"Amante." said a voice from the doorway.
The mare looked over at the door and saw Deva. "Sister. does thou care to join me?"
"Let her up."
"But, sis--"
"Now, Amante."
Amante looked down at Dash and then up at Deva.
"Fine." she said, getting off the pegasus.
Just then Kyra arrived back in the room. "What happened?" she asked, looking around.
"Just a little... misunderstanding." said Deva, eyeing Dash.
Kyra trotted over to Malice and helped the foal onto her back. She then went over to Dash and helped her up.
"We're leaving now." she said, shooting Amante an angry glare as she left the structure.
Amante turned to Deva. "What was that about, sister? I was just about to k--"
"She wants them alive." Deva interrupted. "All of them. She wants them to bear witness to the end."
"The end?" asked Amante. "The end of what?"
"The end... of the Realm Of Mortals."
Author's Note
Sorry, it's short. Just wanted to get this out of the way so you can enjoy it while I work on the next chapter.
Kyra gently laid Malice on the floor of the top room of her tower.
"She okay?" asked Dash, weakly.
The little Demon let out a groan.
"She'll live." said Kyra.
"Did you... find the impure Demon?" asked Dash.
"Yes." said Kyra, pointing. Dash looked to where Kyra was pointing and saw a black colt lying on the floor. "Can you stand?"
"What?" asked Dash, looking at Kyra. "Oh... I think so."
Kyra let go of Dash, making sure she didn't fall over. She didn't. Kyra then trotted over to the unconscious colt.
"You ready?" asked Kyra.
"Of course." said Dash.
Malice slowly looked over at Kyra as Dash went over to join her. Kyra's eyes lit up.
"K... Kyra." said Malice weakly. Kyra's eyes stopped glowing as she looked over at the little Demon. "Take me... with you... please..."
"You need to stay here so you'll heal faster, Malice."
"But, I don't wanna stay here. I wanna go back. Please..."
Kyra let out a sigh and nodded. "Alright, Malice."
Her eyes lit up again as the room filled with a bright light.
Cherry and Pinkamena were sitting at a table, each holding cards.
"A red unicorn?" asked Pinkamena.
Cherry shook her head. "Go fish."
Pinkamena let out a sigh and drew a card.
"Blue pegasus." said Cherry.
Pinkamena's eyes narrowed. "No." Cherry sat there, waiting. "You gonna draw?"
"You gonna say it?"
The pink mare groaned. "Fine." she said with a sigh. "Go... fish."
Cherry smiled and drew a card. Pinkamena let out a frustrated yell and threw her cards.
"What's wrong, sis?" asked Cherry.
"I... I haven't..."
"You haven't what? Learned your manners?"
"No... I haven't... killed any pony... in so... long."
"Well, get used to it." said Cherry, setting her cards down. "Giving it up was the best thing that's happened to us. Now, we can go out in public without feeling like we could be captured at any minute."
"What happened to you, sis?" asked Pinkamena. "You used to love killing. Even more than me. Now..."
"I'd rather live than hide in the shadows."
Just then the room filled with a bright light, causing Pinkamena and Cherry to shield their eyes. When the light cleared, Kyra, Rainbow Dash, Malice, and an unconscious Demon colt appeared near the door. Dash helped Malice onto her back.
"What's this?" asked Pinkamena.
"We're bringing Twilight back." said Dash.
Kyra placed a fore hoof on the colt. "First, we resurrect this colt..."
The colt's body was covered in a red mist as his color slowly returned. He was a teal colt with a yellow mane and tail.
"Now... the sacrifice..." sad Kyra.
The colt's body was covered in a red mist again. There was a flash of light. In that brief flash, Twilight's body could be seen instead of the colt's.
"Twilight?" asked Dash.
There were a couple more flashes where Twilight could be seen.
"Come on, come on." Kyra said through clenched teeth.
Soon there was a flash of red. When everyone's vision came back, Twilight was laying where the colt had been. Kyra let out a sigh of relief as Dash gently set Malice on a chair and ran over to Twilight, kneeling down.
"Twilight?" she asked. "Can you hear me?"
The purple unicorn let out a groan, not opening her eyes. "R... R..."
"Shh..." said Dash. "Save your energy." The pegasus looked up at Kyra. "What happened? What did that spell do?"
Kyra hesitated for a few seconds. "I turned the colt into a mortal, and then sacrificed him."
"What'd the sacrifice do?"
"He and Twilight swapped places." Kyra explained. "The colt is now dead in Twilight's grave while Twilight took his place amongst the living."
"Well... what about her life?" asked Dash. "Will she live as long?"
"The colt was a bit younger than she was."
"Does that mean..." Dash began.
Kyra nodded. "Twilight will live a bit longer than she would have before she died."
The unicorn let out a few coughs. "What... What happ... ened?"
Dash hugged her close. "Shh... You're okay, Twilight. You're alive."
Kyra fell into a seated position, letting out a sigh.
Pinkamena trotted over to them. "You brought her back?"
Kyra nodded. "Yeah. Why?"
Pinkamena eyed the weakened unicorn. "That colt seemed awfully familiar."
Kyra flicked a hoof towards Pinkamena. "You that pink mare he was always talking about?"
"Maybe... Why?"
Kyra stared at her. "So, why would he have been sent to the Netherworld?" She paused. "Seems like you have a little bit of Demon inside you, Pinks."
The pink mare shifted her eyes left and right, trying to ignore Kyra. Cherry stared at her.
"Sis?" she asked. "It's still there?"
"Oh, it's only a little bit." said Kyra. "But I'd watch your anger, Pinks. You could do something you regret."
"I'm about to." said Pinkamena, glaring at Kyra.
The Demon stood up and trotted up to Pinkamena. She then put her hooves on the pink mare's shoulders.
"I'm just playing with you." said Kyra. She removed her hooves. "But, still... keep your anger on the D-L."
Pinkamena said nothing in response. She just turned and headed to the basement stairs. Cherry shrugged and followed.
"Sis? What's wrong?" she asked as she disappeared down the stairs.
Deva stopped a few feet away from a Demon pony who was standing at the edge of the rocky island, looking down at the fire below. She was taller than all the other Demons, even Amante. Deva bowed her head.
"Deva." said the Demon, not turning around.
"It worked. Just like you said."
The Demon smiled. "Of course it did. I don't underestimate my sister's abilities. And neither should you."
"I don't." said Deva, head still bowed. "Only her ability to rule our kind."
"Oh, Deva..." said the Demon with a laugh that made Deva nervous. "this isn't about her ability to rule the Demons."
Deva looked up. "Then... what is this about?"
"Revenge."
"Revenge?" asked Deva, confused. "Revenge on who?"
The Demon looked over her shoulder at Deva and grinned. "Equestria."
1,003 Years Ago...
Aura arrived at the burning shack and stared wide-eyed in horror. "WHAT'S GOING ON??!!!"
The colts looked at her.
"I-It was an accident!" yelled the brown colt. "I-I didn't..."
Amber was suddenly struck with an invisible force. A strange new energy coursed through her body, causing her great pain. She let out a yell as black smoke shot from her eyes and mouth.
"SIS?!" yelled Aura. "AMBER!!!"
She ran towards the shack.
"AMBER!!!"
A burst of black smoke erupted from Amber, causing the shack to explode. The blast sent wooden shards in every direction. A couple floorboards hit Aura in the face and knocked her out.
When she regained consciousness, she stood and rubbed her head.
"Amber?" she asked. "AMBER?!"
Aura looked around frantically. There was no pony in sight. Both her sister and the colts were gone.
"AMBER!!!!!" she yelled. "AMBER!!!!" Aura ran into the burning wreckage. "AMBER!!!"
She shielded her eyes from the heat of the flames and looked, sweating from the heat and fear. Tears were streaming her face.
"No..." she whimpered. She fell into a seated position. "Amber..."
Later That Night...
It was pouring rain outside as Aura lay in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't get to sleep. Thoughts of her sister burning in that fire flooded her mind and wouldn't leave. She kept hearing her screams over and over.
3 Years Later...
Aura heard a knock at her front door and answered it.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Evening, ma'am." said a mail colt. He held out a letter. "For you."
Aura took the letter and the colt left.. She closed the door and sat down at the table. The address on the envelope said it was from Canterlot. A shiver ran down her spine as she opened it.
Dear, Aura
We were sorry to hear about the loss of your sister, not making the following any easier to say. It seems that you are behind on the payments to your house. We regret to inform you that you're to be evicted within the following day. Again, we're sorry.
From, Canterlot Mortgage Company (CMC)
Aura felt a surge of anger as she crumpled up the letter and threw it away.
"Dammit!" she yelled.
She covered rested her forehead on her hooves, resting her elbows on the table. She let out a groan. She suddenly had a thought.
"Moonbeam." she said, getting up from the table and heading to the window. "I hope." she said, staring out at Canterlot Castle in the distance.
Aura arrived in Canterlot and was shocked to see that some of the nearby buildings were damaged. She trotted up to a colt.
"What happened here?" she asked.
"Princess Luna." he said. "She went mad and Celestia banished her to the moon."
Aura went wide-eyed as she felt tears building up. She turned and ran away. The colt watched her leave, confused. The sad mare stood at the edge of the cliff where Canterlot was located and looked down at the ground below.
"Nothing left for me." she said, half angry and half sad. "First my sister... Then, my house... And now my love." She looked up at the moon. It was just barely visible as it was becoming night time. A tear fell from her eye. "Good-bye... my love."
She closed her eyes and stepped off the edge.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the Netherworld. She looked herself over and noticed she was different. Her skin was now black and her hair was gray. Even her eyes were red. She was even taller.
She looked around.
"I'm dead, but... I'm still alive?" She thought for a second before letting out a chuckle. "Perfect... Just you wait, Canterlot. I'm coming for you. One of these days... I will destroy you."
2012, The Next Day
Rainbow Dash had put together a party to celebrate Twilight's return. There was cake, cupcakes (none of Pinkamena's), and other goodies. Kyra helped with the invites and the preparation. She was surprising herself by how much she was enjoying her new life. Malice was talking to the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"So, what are you?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"I'm a Demon." said Malice with a friendly smile.
"But, you're... nice." said Applebloom.
"Not all of us are mean." said Malice. "Kyra used to be... but ever since she met Rainbow Dash, she's been nice."
"Right." said Scootaloo. "So... Do you... want to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"
Malice tilted her head in confusion. "The what now?"
"We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders." said Sweetie Belle. "Or CMC for short. We help ponies find their Cutie Marks... starting with us."
"Cool." said the Demon. "Sounds like fun."
They kept on talking while Kyra trotted around, observing the party. She was soon approached by Twilight's friends.
"Thank you so much for bringing her back." said Fluttershy.
"Oh, it was nothing." said Kyra.
"Nothing?" asked Rarity. "Why, it's everything. Twilight's our best friend... and she died. You brought her back."
"I'd say that's a pretty big somethin'." said Applejack with a smile.
Kyra smiled back. Suddenly, there was the sound of approaching wings. All the ponies watched as Celestia landed near the group of ponies, glaring at Kyra.
"Kyra." she said. "I thought Twilight's return was suspicious."
"Celestia." said Kyra, bowing.
Twilight pushed her way to the front of the crowd where she could see Celestia.
"What are you doing here?" asked the princess. "I thought I made it perfectly clear that I didn't want your kind around here."
"Not to sound rude, Princess," said Kyra. "but the treaty was for Canterlot. Not Ponyville."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." said Kyra, looking up at her. "I have honored the treaty ever since it was put into place. I am merely here celebrating Twilight's return. I have no intention of causing trouble."
Celestia eyed Twilight and then looked back at Kyra. "Very well. You can stay. But, don't come into Canterlot."
"I won't, Princess."
"Don't get me wrong." said Celestia, her tone becoming more friendly. "I am very grateful to you for bringing Twilight back, but the ponies in Canterlot would be on edge."
"I understand."
Celestia smiled and looked at Twilight. "It's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back." said Twilight, smiling back.
Celestia took off towards Canterlot as Twilight approached Kyra.
"What was that about a treaty?" asked Twilight.
Kyra looked at her. "The treaty states that no Demon Pony is allowed within Canterlot."
"Why?"
"Well... the majority of Demons are evil. A couple tried to overthrow Canterlot a while back, thus resulting in a treaty."
"What happened to the Demons that attacked?"
"They were killed... by the Royal Guard."
"What?" asked Twilight. "Killed?"
Kyra nodded. "Only a few things can kill a Demon. A Demon weapon, another Demon, or the right magic spells." She paused. "The Royal Guard are the only ponies that, to this day, know of the magic spells to kill us."
"Oh." said Twilight. "And you haven't tried attacking Canterlot before?"
"I honored the treaty... Plus, I'm not stupid."
Twilight nodded. "That, you're not."
Kyra smiled and placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder.
"Welcome back." she said, before trotting off into the crowd.
Twilight watched her leave. "Thanks."
6 Hours Later...
,The six friends were sitting on the floor of Sugarcube Corner, talking to each other and giggling. Kyra sat at a nearby table with Malice in her lap, asleep. Cherry sat down next to her, looking at the Demon filly.
"She's adorable." she said with a smile.
Kyra smiled back and stroked Malice's mane. "Yeah. I just... never appreciated her like this until I came here."
"What's her name again?"
"Malice."
"Malice?" asked Cherry. "Isn't that like, uh..." (see Author's Notes below)
Kyra chuckled and nodded. "Yeah... Yeah, I... I loved that word... back when I was... not nice."
"So you named her after something you loved?" asked Cherry. Kyra nodded. "Seems like you cared about her even when youwere 'not nice'."
"Yeah... Guess, I did."
Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Who could that be?" asked Cherry, trotting over to answer it. When she got there, she opened the door. "Hello?"
"Why, hi there." said a voice that made Kyra's ears perk up. "I'm looking for my sister."
Kyra got up and set Malice down on the chair. She then ran over to the door and stood, wide-eyed.
"Sis?" she asked.
Standing there, all black and gray and tall, was her sister Aura.
"Been a long time, Amber."
Kyra let out a gasp and then quickly hugged her. "I missed you so much, big sister."
Aura smiled and put a hoof around Kyra. "It's Kyra now, right?"
"Mm-hmm." said Kyra. "You?"
"Viper."
"Viper..." said Kyra, backing away. "Good name."
Aura smiled. "Thanks. Yours, too."
"This is your sister?" asked Rainbow Dash, trotting over.
"Ah, the mortal." said Viper. "You are a cute one." she said, playfully scratching Rainbow Dash's head like a dog.
"Stop it." said Dash with a chuckle.
Viper lowered her hoof. "If you two get hitched, you'll be like my sister."
"Yeah, I... I guess so." said Dash.
Viper smiled but then suddenly held her head, letting ot a small groan.
"Something wrong, sis?" asked Kyra.
Viper shook her head and lowered her hoof. "No."
"Oh!" said Kyra, suddenly remembering something. "Moonbeam!"
Viper went wide-eyed. "Moonbeam?"
"Yeah." said Kyra. "She's still here."
Twilight trotted over. "What's going on?" she asked Dash.
Dash eyed her but then looked back at the Demons.
"Moonbeam's in Canterlot?" asked Viper.
"Moonbeam?" asked Twilight, confused.
"She's back from the moon?"
Twilight went wide-eyed. Viper noticed.
"Something wrong?" she asked.
"You... You know... Luna?"
"Luna?" asked Viper. "I guess that was her name. I always just called her Moonbeam. It sounded cute." she said with a smile.
"Were you two together?"
Viper nodded. "Oh, yes." She let out a sigh. "I miss her so much."
"Well, I can... let her know you're here. Maybe you can get back together."
Viper's eyes lit up with happiness. "Would you?"
Twilight smiled. "Sure. I'll head over to the Library and have Spike write a letter."
"Thank you so much, uh..."
"Twilight--"
"Twilight... Thank you."
The unicorn smiled as she trotted out of the building.
"Excited, sis?" asked Kyra.
"Oh, you have no idea."
Author's Note
Fall Of Equestria / Celestia VS Viper
Viper was sitting on the steps of Sugarcube Corner. Suddenly an alicorn dropped in front of her.
"Aura?" she asked.
Viper quickly stood up. "M... Moonbeam?"
Luna stepped towards Viper and hugged her. Viper hugged back.
Twilight and Rainbow Dash left Sugarcube Corner and watched, smiling happily.
"Oh, Aura." said Luna. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too." said Viper, hugging Luna tightly. "How long has it been? 1,000 years?"
Luna opened her eyes at the thousand-year remark.
"Uh... yes." she said, breaking the hug.
"After Celestia banished you to the moon, I... I thought I'd never see you again."
Luna looked away. "W-Well..."
"What's she doing?" whispered Twilight. "Doesn't she know what she's saying?"
Viper leaned in close to Luna's ear. "Remember, Moonbeam. Celestia. Moon. 1,000 year banishment."
"Stop it, stop it, stop it." Luna repeated softly.
Viper held the alicorn's head in her hooves and kissed her. She separated and leaned back in, Luna still being in a surprised state brought on by the kiss.
"Think... Remember what she did to you."
"Viper!" yelled Twilight, running at her. "Stop it!"
Viper glared at the unicorn as her eyes flashed red. Twilight was then thrown backwards and crashed into a table in Sugarcube Corner.
"Twilight!" yelled Rainbow Dash, running to the unicorn's aid.
Viper looked back at Luna. All the others ran into the room where Dash and Twilight was. Kyra left and stood on the steps.
"Remember, Moonbeam. I lost everything. I will not lose you, too."
"Lost... everything?" asked Luna.
"Yes. Your so-called sister took my home away. I was left homeless. Then, I thought of you. I was gonna ask you if I could live with you, but... then I found out that Celestia sent you to the moon. I was depressed. I even committed suicide, but... as you can see, I'm still here." She paused. "Your sister took everything from me. Now, it's time I take everything from your sister."
"I... I can't let you." said Luna. "Its not right."
"Not right?!" yelled Viper. "LOOK WHAT SHE DID TO ME??!!! TO YOU!!!"
"I am looking. You're not you. You're not the mare I fell in love with."
Viper glared at her as she stepped back. "This world took my sister from me. It took my house. My life... My love..." She paused. "Now, it's time I return the favor." Her eyes glowed red. "WELCOME, PONIES!!!" she yelled. Windows in nearby houses opened as ponies looked out at Viper. "WELCOME... TO THE FALL OF EQUESTRIA!!!"
A burst of dark mist erupted from Viper and covered Ponyville. Soon, there was a flash of light and a booming sound. All the ponies ran outside and gathered in the streets. The sky above the town turned an ominous red. Viper's wings shot out from her sides as she hovered a few feet off the ground.
"ATTENTION, PONIES OF PONYVILLE!!!" she yelled so all could hear. "PREPARE YOURSELVES... FOR THE END OF EVERYTHING!!! EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER LOVED!!! EVERYTHING YOU EVER HOPED TO LOVE!!! AND ALL THE THINGS YOU'LL NEVER LOVE!!! IT ALL ENDS TONIGHT!!!"
"AURA!" yelled Celestia.
The Demon looked over her shoulder.
"You." she said, glaring at the white alicorn.
"How dare you come into this realm and threaten these ponies."
"How dare I? How dare I ?!" Viper yelled turning to face Celestia "HOW DARE YOU!!! YOU RUINED MY LIFE!!! YOU TOOK MY HOUSE, MY LAND... MY LOVE!!! I HATE YOU!!!!"
She fired a dark blast at Celestia. The alicorn shot to the side as the blast struck a nearby building.
Luna looked up at Viper, not believing how much she's changed.
Celestia fired a beam of light at Viper. The Demon flew under it and into the princess. She wrapped her hooves around Celestia and flew up into the red sky.
"You cant beat me, Celestia." said Viper. "Not with all this rage inside me."
"That rage will be your downfall." Celestia said, staring into the Demon's eyes.
Storm clouds began to form over Ponyville as lightning struck the ground. Celestia smashed her head against Viper's, causing the Demon to let go. Viper flapped her wings to regain balance as Celestia backed away. The princess' horn had cut Viper's forehead. Blood began trickling down her face as she let out a growl.
"You can't win, Aura."
"The name... is... VIPER!!!" she yelled, shooting forward into Celestia.
She wrapped her hooves around her again and flew towards Canterlot. Celestia struggled to free herself when Viper covered the both of them in a red mist. Celestia tried to shoot Viper with a light attack but couldn't.
"Having trouble, princess?" asked Viper. "It's called a Shade. Normal magic doesn't work inside it."
They arrived at Canterlot as Viper flew towards the ground at full speed. When she was a few feet off the ground, she released Celestia and pulled up. The white alicorn smashed into the ground. Viper landed beside her and put her wings away. She then knelt down beside Celestia and place a hoof on her cheek.
"So... this is the all-powerful Princess Of The Day. The most regal of all ponies." She grinned. "Now, look at you."
"The others... will... stop you." said Celestia weakly.
Viper smirked. "I doubt that." A red mist left Viper's hoof and entered Celestia's body through her nose and ears. "Now... sleep..."
Celestia tried to keep her eyes open, but couldn't. Viper watched as she passed out before unfolding her wings and hovering in the air.
"PONIES OF CANTERLOT!!! BEHOLD!!! YOUR MIGHTY PRINCESS, CELESTIA!!! THIS IS A FATE WHICH AWAITS ALL OF YOU!!! NOW... FALL!!!"
A burst of dark mist shot out from Viper and traveled across the land.
Kyra watched as a dark mist rolled down the mountain where Canterlot was, heading straight for them.
"Oh, no." said Kyra, realizing what it was. "She's done it."
"Done it?" asked Rainbow Dash. "Done what?"
Kyra sighed. "The Dark Hold. A technique that Demons can perform. It was always said to be impossible to pull off because you had to be at the highest level possible."
"And Viper's that powerful?"
Kyra nodded. "This is it."
"This is what?" asked Dash.
The black mist shot passed them and continued traveling across the land, killing trees and every other kind of vegetation until it was a wasteland.
Kyra looked at Dash with concern. "The fall of Equestria."
A Contingency Plan / Refuge
The ponies of Ponyville had managed to escape the town when Viper flew Celestia to Canterlot. Twilight looked over her shoulder at Ponyville and Canterlot. The Dark Hold had consumed nearly half the planet already.
"This is terrible." said Twilight. "This is the worst thing that's ever happened."
Kyra looked around at the dead trees and plants.
"I can't believe this is happening." she said. "My sis used to be so nice." A tear came to her eye.
Dash put a hoof on her shoulder. Twilight looked back at Luna. The blue alicorn was at the back of the pack, head hung in sadness. The purple unicorn stopped moving until she was next to Luna.
"Don't worry, Luna." she said. "We'll find a way to make things right."
"I hope so." the alicorn said sadly. "I just want us to be together."
"I'm sorry this happened."
Luna closed her eyes and shook her head. "It was not your fault, Twilight Sparkle. You didn't die on purpose."
"What does that have... to..." Twilight stopped and thought. "Hold on a second."
"What is it?"
"I'll be back." she said, running back up to the front where Kyra and Dash were. "Rainbow! Kyra!"
The two looked back.
"Yes, Twilight?" asked Kyra.
"How'd I come back?"
"Well, we went to Kyra's home realm..." said Dash.
"Home realm?"
"The Netherworld." said Kyra.
"So, how'd you bring me back?"
"We had to find a Demon to resurrect and sacrifice." said Dash.
"And how'd you find the Demon?"
"We went to Amante's Dungeon." said Kyra. "What's this all ab--"
"Amante?" Twilight interrupted. "Who's that?"
"Sister of Deva, my faithful assistant-- Why, again?"
"Amante and Deva..." said Twilight, thinking aloud. "Sisters... I died in an accident... Amante had the Demon you needed... Viper needed me to get to Luna... so she could... take over..." She stopped. "Oh..."
"What is it?" asked Kyra.
"Amante and Deva are working with Viper. This whole time."
"What are y--"
"They know each other!" said Twilight, excited she figured it out.
Viper stood on the balcony of the tallest tower of Canterlot Castle; her new throne room.
"Viper." said a voice from behind.
The Demon closed her eyes. "Yes, Deva?"
"Everything's in place... just like you said."
Viper grinned. "Of course it is." She paused. "Is your sister doing her job as well?"
"Of course."
"Good. Your loyalty continues to impress me, Deva."
"Thank you, Viper."
Viper watched as Demon ponies flew by. Fires burned across the land. It looked like the Netherworld had migrated into the Realm Of Mortals. Viper turned from the balcony and trotted back inside.
"We need a contingency plan." she said.
"A contingency plan?" asked Deva. "But... we've won--"
Viper zipped in front of Deva, causing the mare to stop short. Her eyes, narrowed.
"My sister's with them." she said. "Do not underestimate her." She paused. "We've won nothing as long as she's with the others."
"So... this contingency plan?"
Viper smiled and trotted to the balcony again. Deva followed. Viper pointed towards the Canterlot Sculpture Garden.
"What do you see?" she asked.
Deva followed Viper's hoof, to the spot where she was pointing. "Discord?" She turned back to Viper. "You want to release Discord?"
Viper smirked. "No, Deva." she said, lowering her hoof. "But he did have daughter, did he not? His little Spawn Of Chaos?"
Deva thought for a second, remembering all the stuff she saw happen in this realm.
"Screwball?"
Viper put a hoof on Deva's shoulder. "Find me Screwball. She could be of great use to me."
Deva nodded. "Of course, Viper."
She turned and left, leaving Viper alone on the balcony. The Demon looked over her new dominion with an evil smile.
"Right here, everypony!" yelled Twilight, entering a cave. "We can rest here!"
All the ponies in Ponyville began entering the cave. Aloe and Lotus trotted passed Twilight. They were holding each other and crying. The unicorn trotted up to them.
"You okay, girls?" she asked.
Aloe looked at Twilight with tear-filled eyes. "O-Our spa. It's gone." she cried. "It was all that was left of our parents."
"Oh..." said Twilight.
"Now, we have nothing."
Twilight hugged them. "We'll get through this. And afterwords, I'll help you rebuild it. Just the way it was."
"Y-You mean it?" asked Lotus.
Twilight nodded. "It may take some time, but... yeah."
"Thank you, Twilight." said Lotus.
Twilight smiled and broke the hug. The two smiled back and trotted off. Twilight looked towards the cave entrance and saw a violet foal with purple hair and a propeller-cap sitting there, staring outside.
Kyra trotted up to Twilight.
"That was a nice thing you just did, Twilight." she said.
"Yeah, well... Aloe and Lotus are sweet... Seeing them sad makes me sad." She motioned towards the entrance. "Who's that?"
Kyra looked. "Oh. That's Screwball. She sure is a mystery."
Twilight hesitated before trotting up to the foal.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Have you seen the chaos outside?" asked the foal, showing no emotion.
"Um... Yes..."
"So much chaos..."
"You okay?" asked Twilight.
"Daddy would be proud."
Twilight backed away. "Right... Well... I'll just be... going." She turned and trotted back to Kyra.
Screwball kept staring outside.
"I miss you, daddy."
The ponies of Ponyville huddled together to keep warm in the cold cave. Dash laid down beside Kyra and the Demon mare put a hoof around her.
"Why's it so c-cold in here?" asked the pegasus.
"I'm afraid it's my fault." said Kyra.
"Y-You?"
Kyra nodded. "I'm temporarily reversing the effects of the weather in this cave. So... since it as so hot in here..."
"Now, it's so c-cold."
"Precisely." said Kyra, holding Dash closer.
She stuck out her wing and covered Dash with it like a blanket. The cyan mare closed her eyes and snuggled up to Kyra, getting comfy. The Demon smiled and looked around the cave.
Twilight was talking with her friends.
"What're we gonna do, Twilight?" asked Applejack.
"I'm not sure. We've never faced a situation like this."
"Can't we just use the Elements?" asked Rarity.
"They're in the castle." said Twilight. "Viper's castle. And even if we somehow manage to retrieve them..." Se paused and looked at Pinkamena, who was huddling with her sister. "we're one Element short."
"Is this... the end?" asked Fluttershy softly. "Have we lost?"
Twilight looked at her, not sure what to say. Then, suddenly, there was a voice from the entrance
"Oh, it's so bright."
Twilight tried to see who it was. "What?"
"The light." said the voice.
Twilight trotted over to the entrance to see Derpy.
"Derpy?" asked Twilight. "What are you--"
"The light, Twilight. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Derpy, it's--"
"Like crystal."
Twilight was about to say something but closed her mouth and looked outside. Derpy was right. In the distance, near the horizon line, was a bright white light. The purple unicorn let out a gasp.
"Good girl, Derp." she said, placing a hoof on the cross-eyed mare's shoulder before heading back to her friends. "Get everypony ready. We're moving."
"Moving?" asked Rarity. "Where are we moving to?"
Twilight smiled. "The Crystal Empire."
Viper was standing out on the balcony. She looked over her shoulder when she heard the throne room door open.
"That you, Deva?" she asked.
"Yes, Viper." said the grey Demon, accompanied by the sound of a child struggling. "And I brought you a friend."
Viper smiled and turned around. "Little Screwball." she said, heading back inside. "Welcome to my castle."
"Let me go." said the foal, squirming.
"Oh, you can let her go, Deva. She's not going anywhere."
The grey Demon let go of the foal and headed to the large double-doors, closing them. The foal looked around as Viper knelt down in front of her.
"Hi, there." she said. "Do you know who I am?"
"N-No."
"I'm Viper." said the Demon, reaching out a hoof towards Screwball.
Viper, to her surprise, found herself fighting an invisible force keeping her hoof away from the foal. She grinned and pulled her hoof back.
"Well, look at you." said Viper. "The power of Chaos... in one... teeny... tiny... package."
"What do you want?" asked Screwball, hiding tears of fear.
Viper smiled. "I want to put your hidden talents to use, little one."
"And why should I help you?"
Viper hesitated. "Your dad. You'd like to see him again, wouldn't you?"
"D... Discord?" asked Screwball.
"I can set him free."
"You can?"
Viper nodded. "All this chaos should be enough to awaken him. But since he's in my world... he must wait 'til I release him. Different world, different rules."
"And you'll set him free if I help you?"
"Well, of course."
Screwball smiled. "Well... I do enjoy some chaos."
"There you go." said Viper. "And when the others arrive to try and take their realm back, you'll get all the chaos you could ever want."
Screwball smiled. "Chaos..."
The group of ponies started to leave the cave. Twilight stood at the mouth of the cave, making sure everypony got out.Kyra and Dash approached her.
"Everything good?" asked Dash.
"Actually..." said Twilight, looking around. "I think we're missing somepony."
"We are?" asked Kyra. "Who is it?"
"Screwball."
"Yeah, but... she's a foal." said Dash. "Maybe you missed her."
"Maybe." said Twilight, unsurely. "I just have this... feeling."
"A feeling?" asked Kyra. "What kind of feeling?"
"Like something's wrong... besides the obvious." She paused. "Kyra... How clever is your sister?"
"Very... And now that she's a Demon... who knows?"
"That's comforting." said Dash.
"Well, keep your eyes out for anything... suspicious." said Twilight. "I'll let my other friends know, but only them. We don't want to frighten the ponies any more than they already are. Right now, they can feel safe knowing we're headed to the Crystal Empire."
Dash and Kyra nodded. Twilight smiled and went off to find the others. Luna looked back at Canterlot and sighed.
"Oh, Aura..." she said sadly. "Please... stop."
Viper stood out on the balcony and grinned.
"It's too late, Moonbeam." she said. "No going back."
A tear fell from Luna's eye as she turned away and followed the group of ponies towards the Crystal Empire.
Twilight and the others were getting closer to the Crystal Empire.
"Getting close!" yelled Twilight, trying to talk over the wind.
The breeze was so strong that it was picking up red sand. The ponies had to cover their face.
Viper arrived in the dungeons of her Dark Castle and approached a tall, red, cylindrical crystal. Inside was Celestia. Viper smiled as she began circling it.
"Hey, there, Celestia." she said. "Enjoying your prison in time?" She let out a giggle. "I know you can hear me. Your brain's free, it's your body that isn't. Fascinating thing, Time Prison. Too bad it only works once every 6 months, but..." She stopped in front of Celestia. "I'll make do." She reached a hoof out, penetrating the red crystal as if it wasn't even there, and touched Celestia's cheek. "So close you are... and yet so far away."
"Mistress Viper." came a voice from the dungeon entrance.
Viper pulled her hoof out of the crystal, the hole sealing back up. She then ran a hoof down the crystal's smooth surface.
"Yes, Amante? What is it?"
"Thy enemies hath been located."
"Where?" asked Viper.
"They were headed towards the Crystal Empire."
Viper slammed her hoof on the crystal, causing it to crack. Celestia found the strength to look at Viper before the cracks disappeared.
"The Crystal Empire... How could I have been so stupid?"
"What troubles you, Mistress?"
"The Crystal Empire. Of course the Dark Hold would have no effect. Those... Crystal ponies and their precious Crystal Heart." Viper spat.
"What is thy will, Mistress?"
"Stop them. Whatever it takes." She turned to face Amante and began trotting towards her. "They must not reach the Crystal Empire." Amante began backing up. "If they do, they will be safe from me." Amante backed into the wall as Viper stood in front of her. "Don't fail me, Amante."
"I-I won't, Mistress." said Amante.
Viper smiled. "If you're half as good as your sister, I have no doubt you'll succeed."
"Thank you. I do hope to be like her some day."
"I'm sure." said Viper. "Now, go."
Amante nodded before turning and heading back upstairs. She met Deva at the top.
"Got a task, sis?" she asked.
Amante nodded. "Yes... And I don't plan to mess this up."
"Deva!" yelled Viper from downstairs.
The Demon looked down the stairs and then back at her sister.
"Don't piss her off, huh?"
Amante smiled. "I don't plan to."
She left Deva and headed down the hallway. The other Demon sighed and headed downstairs. When she got to the bottom, she saw Viper leaning her back up against the red crystal.
"I got an idea." she said.
"Such as?" asked Deva, stopping at the bottom of the stairs.
"If Kyra and the others make it to the Crystal Empire, they'll rally more fighters."
"Afraid they may win?"
Viper glared at her. "Don't underestimate my sister."
"Right... Sorry." Deva paused. "What's the plan?"
"We're gonna find our own fighters to join us."
"Any in mind?"
Viper smiled deviously. "Oh, I got an idea."
The light of the Crystal Empire was getting brighter as the ponies neared it.
"We're getting closer!" yelled Twilight. "Hurry!"
Just then the sound of wings could be heard. Twilight, Kyra, Dash, and Luna stopped and looked up.
"What's that?" asked Dash.
Twilight noticed the other ponies looking. "Keep heading towards the Crystal Empire!" she yelled. "Hurry!" The others began running faster. Twilight trotted over to Kyra. "What is it?"
Kyra sighed. "Amante."
"Her?" asked Dash.
"Who's her?" asked Twilight.
Just then Amante landed near them, cracking the ground on impact. "I'm her."
Viper and Deva landed in front of a cave in what was left of a forest. The two entered and found themselves following the cave downwards into the earth.
"How far down does this go?" asked Deva.
"How should I know?" asked Viper.
After a minute or two, they reached the bottom, which was a large underground cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
"This place is huge." said Deva, looking around. "So much space."
Just then two Changelings popped out from behind a rock and blocked the two Demons. They both snarled.
"Oh, isn't that cute?" asked Viper, mockingly. One of the Changelings began clicking and chirping in their language. "I'm sorry. I don't speak mutt."
The two Changelings growled as a larger one approached.
"What's going on here?" she asked.
"Finally." said Deva. "One who speaks normally."
"Chrysalis?" asked Viper.
The large Changeling looked them up and down. "And... who are you?"
"Name's Viper. I'm a Demon Pony... And I sort of run this world now."
Chrysalis' eyes narrowed. "I am the ruler down here and also that of the Changelings."
"Oh, I know." said Viper. "I have no intention of taking away your leadership."
"Then what are you doing here in my lair?"
"I would like to extend my hoof in friendship..." said Viper, holding out her hoof. "so that we may become an unstoppable team and defeat Twilight and her pathetic pony friends."
"Twilight Sparkle?" asked Chrysalis. "It's her brother I want. Him and his new bride."
"And you can have them. To do as you please."
"How can you guarantee this?"
Viper smiled. "Twilight and the others from Ponyville are heading to the Crystal Empire. Her brother and Princess Cadence are there."
Chrysalis' eyes narrowed as a grin spread across her face. "Perfect." She took off into the air and hovered. "LISTEN UP, MY SUBJECTS!!!" yelled Chrysalis, her voice echoing off the walls. All the Changelings stopped what they were doing and looked at her. "THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO RISE ABOVE AND TAKE OUR REVENGE ON THE ONES WHO DEFEATED US!!! THE TIME HAS COME TO TAKE BACK WHAT'S OURS!!! THE TIME HAS COME... TO REGAIN OUR HONOR!!!!" She paused and smiled. "NOW GO FORTH AND JOIN THE DEMONS IN CONQUERING EQUESTRIA!!!"
The Changelings let out their own battle cries and began marching passed Viper and Deva, heading up above. Chrysalis landed next to Viper as the three watched the Changeling army march pass.
"How many are there?" asked Deva.
"About 500." answered Chrysalis.
Viper looked around. "563." she said. "To be exact."
Chrysalis smiled. "Very good, Viper."
The Changeling army reached the mouth of their cave and began running and flying towards the Crystal Empire.
The light of the Crystal Empire was getting brighter as the ponies neared it.
"We're getting closer!" yelled Twilight. "Hurry!"
Just then the sound of wings could be heard. Twilight, Kyra, Dash, and Luna stopped and looked up.
"What's that?" asked Dash.
Twilight noticed the other ponies looking. "Keep heading towards the Crystal Empire!" she yelled. "Hurry!" The others began running faster. Twilight trotted over to Kyra. "What is it?"
Kyra sighed. "Amante."
"Her?" asked Dash.
"Who's her?" asked Twilight.
Just then Amante landed near them, cracking the ground on impact. "I'm her."
"Amante." said Kyra. "Viper send you?"
"Why, yes. She did. Is thou afraid?"
Dash stepped in front of Kyra. "You want my friends, you'll have to go through me."
Amante smiled. "If that is thy wish."
She zipped in front of Dash and whacked her across the face, sending her sliding across the hard ground. Kyra made a move but Amante blasted her with dark energy, sending her flying into Twilight.
"Kyra!" yelled Dash.
She tried to stand but Amante appeared in front of her.
"Does thou surrender?" she asked.
"No." said Dash. "Thou does not surrender!"
"Then, thou art a fool!" yelled Amante, grabbing Dash and throwing her.
The pegasus opened her wings and stopped herself in mid-air. Amante smiled.
"Good." she said. "Twas afraid it'd be too easy."
Her wings shot out and began flapping. Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkamena, and Cherry covered their eyes to shield themselves from the dust that was being blown around. Kyra got off Twilight and helped the unicorn up.
"You okay, Twilight?" she asked.
"I think so."
Amante let out a laugh as she raised herself of the ground. "You ponies are pathetic!"
"Quick!" yelled Dash to the others. "Get to the Crystal Empire!!! I'll hold her off!!!"
Amante let out a gasp as she looked at the group of ponies on the ground. They all hesitated but began to trot off. Kyra stayed.
"I'm not leaving you, Dashie." said Kyra.
Amante let out a growl as she made a move to stop the others. Dash took off full speed and rammed into her. Amante spun around.
"You bitch!" she yelled, buck-kicking the cyan mare. "Thou cannot beat me!!!"
"I don't need to beat you. Just keep you busy."
Amante let out a yell and shot into Dash. causing all the air inside Dash's lungs to escape out her mouth. She fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Amante landed next to her, a hoof on the pegasus' neck.
"Thou would die for thy friends?"
"Yes." said Dash. "I-I would."
"Why?" asked Amante. "Why would thy do such a thing?"
"Because... we have a bond that you will never understand."
"I have thy sister."
"Deva?" asked Dash. "That's one. I have five."
Amante let out a growl as she pressed down harder on Dash's neck. Kyra ran at Amante and tackled her off Dash, rolling across the ground. Kyra ended up on top.
"Oh, just how I always imagined thee." said Amante. "On top."
"Shut up, Amante." said Kyra. "Now, you listen to me. I'm your leader. Viper works for me and SO DO YOU!!!"
Amante let out a laugh. "You? Thy leader? I think not. Thou has shown her true colors when thee mad friends with a mortal. Thou is unfit to rule!"
"UNFIT!" yelled Kyra. "I WAS APPOINTED LEADER BY SHADE HIMSELF!!! HE MADE ME RULER!!! NOT YOU!!! NOT DEVA!!! NOT VIPER!!! ME!!!"
Amante sniffed the air. "Smell that?"
"What?" asked Kyra, confused by the Demon's question.
"Smells like change... with a hint of thy defeat!"
Amante whacked Kyra across the face, knocking her off. She then stood up and brought out her wings. Suddenly there was a blast of purple from the Crystal Empire. Kyra looked over at it and smiled.
"The others made it." she said.
Dash stood up. "Looks like you failed, Amante."
Amante let out a growl. "Then Ill just take you with me!" she yelled charging at Dash.
Kyra's wings shot out and she shot at Dash, snatching her away from Amante and flying to the Crystal Empire. Amante let out a loud yell in defeat and took off back to Viper's Dark Castle.
Author's Note
Just a short fight sequence. Later ones will be longer... A LOT longer...
Amante landed on the balcony of Viper's throne room and put her wings away. She trotted inside when she suddenly heard a thud behind her. She let out a gasp and turned around.
"Oh... Viper... It's you."
Viper folded her wings away and trotted towards Amante. She was followed by Deva.
"What happened?" asked Viper. "Did you stop them?"
"Um... Well... Nay, Mistress Viper."
"No?" asked the Demon. "You let them escape?!"
Amante let out a whimper. "Yes..."
"Please, tell me you at least caught the mare that corrupted my sister."
"Dash?" asked Amante. She slowly shook her head.
Viper glared at her as she trotted towards her. Amante began backing up.
"I ask you to do one thing, Amante. One thing. And you can't even do that."
"Please, Viper, I-I'll..."
"SHUT UP!!!" yelled Viper as she backed Amante into the wall. "You have failed and let our enemies reach the Crystal Empire. This is very bad news for us."
"Give thee one more chance." Amante begged. "Let me show thou that I can--"
"I SAID SHUT UP!!!" yelled Viper, slamming Amante into the wall and holding her there. Viper's eyes flashed red. "Time for your punishment."
Twilight burst into the throne room of the Crystal Castle.
"Twily!" yelled Shining Armor, running towards her. The two hugged each other. "I'm so glad you're okay."
"Me, too, BBBFF." said Twilight with a smile.
The two broke the hug as Cadence trotted up to them.
"How's my little sister-in-law?" she asked.
Twilight hugged her, too. "It's been so long."
Cadence smiled. "We need to get together when Equestria isn't at stake."
"Yeah." said Twilight, breaking the hug and taking a step back. "But what are we going to do now ? This is bigger than anything we've ever faced."
"It is." said Cadence, trotting out onto the balcony. She looked out at the fire and destruction. "The light of the Crystal Heart is the only thing keeping the darkness out. If that falls..."
"It won't." said Twilight. "My friends and I will make sure it stays protected."
"Then the duty is yours, sister." said Cadence, turning and heading back inside. "Protect the Heart... or the Crystal Empire will fall once again."
Twilight nodded. "I will... sister." she said, turning to leave.
"Oh, and... Twilight?" asked Cadence. The purple unicorn looked over her shoulder. "Be careful."
Twilight nodded. "I will."
Viper trotted away from Amante, who was lying injured on the floor against the wall. Deva ran up and knelt down next to her.
"You okay, sis?" she asked.
Amante let out a groan. Her eye was blackened and she had some pretty nasty cuts.
"Perhaps next time you'll think twice about failing me." said Viper, standing in the center of the room.
Amante weakly nodded.
"Was this really necessary?" asked Deva.
"You want to be punished as well?"
Just then Chrysalis flew in through the balcony door. "Am I interrupting?"
Viper turned to her. "No. What is it?"
"Just wanted to let you know that my Changelings have surrounded the Crystal Empire."
"Good." said Viper. "Now, commence the attack."
Chrysalis nodded. "Gladly."
Kyra trotted up to Twilight. "Hey... Have you seen Malice anywhere?"
Twilight turned from her friends. "Hey, Kyra. Um... Is she the little black foal?"
Kyra nodded. "Yeah, that's her. Red eyes..."
"Yeah, I... think I saw her over there somewhere," said the purple unicorn, pointing to Kyra's left.
Kyra looked in that direction and then back at Twilight. "Thanks."
She started to turn away when Twilight spoke up. "Kyra?"
The Demon stopped and turned back around. "Yeah, Twilight?"
"Thank you... for bringing me back."
"Oh, stop, Twilight. It was nothing."
"Yes, it was something. You brought me back from the dead. Dash told me what you two went through, and... that was a real show of character."
Kyra looked away, slightly embarrassed by the compliments... which she was not used to. "Well, I... saw how upset Dash was, and..."
Twilight smiled. "You like her, huh?"
Kyra blushed slightly. "I... I..." She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "I do."
"Well, she's lucky to have somepony like you, K."
Kyra smiled somewhat sheepishly. "Thanks, Twi."
The unicorn smiled and nodded. "And good luck finding Malice. I'm pretty sure she's still there."
Kyra nodded and turned away, leaving the unicorn behind as she went off to find the little Demon foal. She soon found her laying on the ground, looking bored. Kyra trotted up to her and laid down next to her.
"Something wrong?" she asked.
Malice sniffled. "I just... I'm scared. I don't wanna die."
Kyra put a hoof around her and held her close. "You're not gonna die. You can't die."
"But... a Demon can be killed by another Demon as if they were mortals, right?"
Kyra sighed. "Yeah, but... I'm not gonna--"
"I don't mean you."
Kyra looked away. "You mean... my sister?"
Malice nodded, eyes closed. "Her and those other two. Can you stop them?"
"Viper's my sister, Malice. I can't just... kill her." She noticed Malice seemed really frightened. "But I promise to protect you no matter what happens."
Malice looked up at her and smiled. "Y-You mean it?"
Kyra nodded. "I do."
Malice sniffled. "Is it okay if... I call you... m-mommy?"
The Demon mare smiled. "Why just call me mommy?"
"You mean, you... you'll..." Malice stammered, unsure of what the mare was trying to say.
Kyra nodded. "Yes. I'll be your mother, Malice..."
The foal gasped and hugged the mare. "Oh, thank you, thank you."
Kyra hugged back as Dash came over. "What's goin' on here?"
"I have a daughter," said Kyra, looking up at Dash.
Dash sat down and ran her hoof through Malice's mane, smiling. "You'll make a great mother."
Kyra smiled at Dash before a loud, deep horn sounded throughout the Crystal Empire. The two mares looked at each other before getting up.
"What's going on?" asked Malice.
Kyra picked her up and placed her on her back. Wings shot out from her sides.
"Hang on tight," she ordered the foal.
Malice wrapped her forelegs around Kyra's neck. The Demon mare shot up into the sky and saw an army of Changelings approaching. She let out a gasp and looked down at all the panicking ponies. She suddenly spotted Twilight.
"TWILIGHT!!!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, using some power to carry her voice, causing it to echo.
The unicorn stopped running and looked around. She then looked up.
"KYRA?!" she yelled.
"THEY'RE CHANGELINGS!!!"
"WHAT?!"
"THEY'RE... CHANGELINGS!!!! A WHOLE ARMY!!!"
Twilight let out a gasp and began taking off to the guard tower. She zipped passed running crystal ponies and burst into the guard tower. She made her way up the stairs and into the room.
"Can you see them?" she asked.
The guards spun around.
"Twilight?" asked one of the guards. "What are you--"
"Nevermind that! Can you see them?!"
The guards spun around and looked through their telesopes.
"They're getting closer," said the guard on the left.
"Strange black creatures," said the other.
"They're Changelings," said Twilight. "They take on the form of a pony they've seen."
"Well, that's great," said one of the guards.
"Yeah," said Twilight. "I've dealt with them before."
She turned to leave when a guard spoke up. "How'd you beat them?"
"With something we don't have access to right now," said the unicorn as she left.
The two guards looked at each other, a little uneasy.
Twilight ran up to the castle as Shining Armor and Cadence ran out.
"Twily!" yelled the colt. "Did you see what it is?"
"Kyra did. It's Changelings."
"Changelings?" asked Cadence. "Not them again."
"Don't worry, sis," said Twilight. "Me and my friends will stop them."
"I'll make sure our soldiers are ready," said Shining Armor, heading back into the castle.
"Think you can make another shield?" asked Twilight.
"Shouldn't be a problem," said Cadence. "Changelings are nothing compared to King Sombra."
"Good. That'll buy us some time."
Cadence smiled. "You have the heart of a true leader, Twilight. Perhaps even that of a princess."
"Yeah, like that would ever happen," said Twilight with a smile.
She then took off to go find her firends. After about a minute, she found them be a shop stand.
"Girls!" she yelled.
They all looked at her.
"Twilight?" asked Applejack. "What's out there?"
"Changelings."
"Changelings?" asked Cherry. "I've heard that name before."
"They're shape-changers," said Twilight. "Don't let your guard down."
"Right," said Rarity.
Twilight took off to the border where Kyra was. "Come on, girls."
Kyra landed and held Malice close.
"Look... mommy," said Malice.
Kyra looked and saw an injured mare limping towards them. The Demon got up and ran over to her.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "What happened?"
"There was so many of them..." she said weakly, collapsing.
Kyra caught her and gently laid her down. Twilight and the others came running over to them.
"Who's that?" asked Twilight.
"I dunno," Kyra responded. "She just stumbled in and collapsed."
"Rarity?" asked Twilight. "Can you and Fluttershy help her to the infirmary?"
The two mares nodded and helped the mare to her hooves. They then began helping her to the infirmary, when they suddenly stopped.
"Where's the infirmary?" asked Rarity.
"It's near the castle! Ask my sister!"
"Your sister?!" asked Rarity, confused.
Twilight groaned. "Cadence! Ask Cadence!"
"Ohhhhhh, right! Got it!" yelled Rarity, remembering.
The two mares began helping the mare to the castle. Twilight turned to the others.
"Get ready, girls," she said. "We got a fight ahead of us."
Rarity helped the mare onto a bed in the infirmary.
"There you go... whoever you are," said the white unicorn.
"Dradle," said the mare with a weak smile.
"Now, you just rest, okay?" said Fluttershy.
Dradle smiled as a loud whoosh sound was heard, follow by repetitive banging.
Rarity and Fluttershy looked at each other before taking off.
The Changeling army rammed into the shield repeatedly as Amante and Chrysalis hovered above them.
"They've got a shield!" growled the Changeling queen.
"How do we get through?" asked Amante, looking around.
Chrysalis grinned. "Oh, I have a way."
Twilight paced back and forth at the edge of the shield as all the guards got in position.
"Something just doesn't feel right," said Twilight.
Applejack trotted up to her. "Somethin' the matter?"
"I just have this bad feeling."
"About... what?"
"I'm not sure."
A crystal nurse stood beside Dradle's bed.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
Dradle smiled and nodded. "I'm good, thanks."
The nurse smiled back at her. "Great. Now, let me go get you something to help you sleep, okay?"
Dradle nodded. "A rest would be great."
Twilight turned around and scanned the crowd. Suddenly she saw some pony familiar.
"What the..." she asked.
"What?" asked AJ, looing where Twi was.
Twilight took off towards a mare. "Hey!"
The mare stopped and looked at her. "Wh-What?"
"What's your name?" asked Twilight, frantically.
"M-My name--"
"Your name!"
The mare gasped. "D-Dradle!"
Twilight gasped. "Oh, no..."
The nurse went back to Dradle's bed. "Okay, I have your..."
She stopped when she saw the bed was empty. "Hello? Dradle?"
She was suddenly pulled under the bed, her scream getting cut off.
Twilight and AJ took off towards the infirmary.
"What exactly's goin' on?" asked the farm mare.
"A Changeling took the form of a crystal pony and snuck in. We have to stop her."
The nurse got out from under the bed and sighed, her eyes flashing green as she left the infirmary, looking around. She made her way towards the castle just as Twilight ran passed. She burst into the infirmary and looked around. She ran up to a nurse.
"My friends brought in a mare just now. Where is she?"
"At the end," the nurse answered.
Twilight nodded and took off, looking at the end beds. "Not here."
Applejack looked around. "Where is she?"
Twilight dropped to the floor and looked under the beds, gasping when she saw the nurse.
"No!"
"What now?" asked Applejack.
"The nurse! It's that nurse!" She quickly got up and ran back outside, heading towards the castle.
The nurse went behind a bush and peered around, looking at a guard.
"H-Help!" she cried. "It hurts!" she fake-cried.
The nearest guard ran over to her. "Are you okay, ma'am?"
The nurse quickly lunged at the guard.
Twilight stood at the entrance to the castle and ran up to a guard.
"Have you seen a nurse come through here?"
The guard shook his head. "No. No nurses."
A guard suddenly rounded the corner and passed Twilight, entering the castle. The unicorn eyed him when suddenly there was a commotion.
"HELP!!! GUARD DOWN!!!" yelled a voice from where the guard came from.
Twilight gasped and stared at the guard. He looked over his shoulder and smiled before heading up the stairs.
"The guard!" yelled Twilight. "He's the Changeling!"
Applejack looked at the guard as did the guards at the entrance. The colt burst through the doors and into the royal chambers. Cadence and Shining Armor were on the balcony. They both turned around.
"Guard!" yelled Shining Armor, shocked. "Wh-What's wrong?"
"You're needed out front, sir."
Shining Armor nodded and gave Cadence a kiss on the cheek before running out of the room.
"What's the issue?" asked Cadence.
The guard grinned and began walking towards her. "The issue... is me."
He lunged at Cadence, turning into a Changeling. The princess gasped and tried to fly but the Changeling tackled her, wrapping it's forelegs around her. They fell off the balcony and hit the ground below. Twilight and AJ stopped at the stairs and looked back.
"CADENCE!!!" yelled Twilight, running back outside.
The princess groaned. "Ohhhh..." Her horn gave a light flash.
Twilight gasped and looked up as the shield began to lower. "No..."
Chrysalis chuckled. "READY YOURSELVES, MY CHILDREN!!! LEAVE NONE STANDING!!!"
The Changeling chirped happily and snarled at Twilight as two guards tackled it, preventing it from escaping.
"The shiled is down," said Twilight, watching it get lower and lower. "This so not good."
A guard helped Cadence up as Shining Armor came running out. "Sweetie!"
"I'm okay..." said the princess with a groan. She tried to raise the shilled but was too weak. "I'm... sorry..."
Shining pulled her gently into a hug. "It's okay..."
Twilight and AJ rejoined their friends. "It's time," said the unicorn. Get ready."
The shiled lowered and Chrysalis smiled.
"My children..." she said. "CHARGE!!!"
