The Corrupt Man

Chapters

Prologue: The Corrupt Speak
Chapter 1: We March
Chapter 2: Bodily Harm

Prologue: The Corrupt Speak

The world stands in ruin, cities burn, the local populace enslaved. Rivers run black, the oceans are as thick as tar, whole forests rot with decay, and at the center of it lays the corruption. It is a foul substance, slowly eating away at the world, reducing it to a smoldering bolder. It takes the souls of those it corrupts and turns them into fodder, with no purpose, but to serve its will. It eats and it eats, always hungering for more. When it is done with the world it moves on. Unfortunately, the corruption does not forfeit the world it consumes, it keeps it for itself, denying all that is good from taking root. It takes the souls it ate, and uses them in the next invasion.

I sit upon this ruined world, gazing down in anger and remorse. Another world to add to my ever increasing empire, I walk a crossed this dead world, taking note of the taint that serve my will, ripping the flesh of the innocent. I soon come to a gothic style cathedral, not to dissimilar to Notre Dame. Two towers erected on either side of the entrance. The doors were blown open. As to how it was blown open. That was a mystery to me. What was beyond the door was more important. A portal leading to the next world sat near the entrance. A new world to consume was my first thought. Something about this world was different, more peaceful and harmonious than any world I have encountered. Normally, I would always spare the pure worlds. I always found it a sin to disrupt the peace and the corruption knew this, it also knew I would never go against it.

We do not seek to devour a world that has been crafted by creator himself. Hidden elements in the land. Their views are not so noble, as we. They seeks to purge the land of creator, we cannot allow this. Corruption is weak there and so will you be. Fret not. Your powers are still applicable, though diminished. Step through to your ascension, for gods of old and new rule that world. It is now your time to shine and make right of the wrongs of old. She is waiting, brave her up.

I found myself backside on the ground. I look up to the sky, it weeps red, the sky burns. I slowly get off my back and stand in the same spot where I have fallen. Everywhere around me, buildings burn and bodies of dead equines litter the rusted ground. I cannot say if I am in a small city or a hamlet. “What have you done?” Demanding as this feminine voice can be. Swirled behind me was a white alicorn, adorned with a golden tiara and necklace and a sun cutie mark on her flank. This is not the first time I have encountered an alicorn before. Some come to me seeking power in return for their service, others, their demise. She stands unnerved, staring me down as if she was the cat and I was the mouse. My eyes showed no focus. If I didn’t know any better, I would say I was half dead. Slothful I stood, waving from side to side.

“I will say this one more time. Why have you come into my kingdom, burned my town and slaughtered my ponies? Speak quickly human!” anger quickly consumed her voice.

“What have I done?” Mystery overcame my voice. “I have done nothing wrong except set foot on your world. Your town burns, but that can be rebuilt.”

“Yes. But what of the dead? They’re gone now. Nothing can replace their lives.” She continued in her rising anger.

“Are you so sure? Allow me to provide a solution.” I held up my right hand conjuring a ball of tar, corruption looks like tar, and threw it at a nearby pony. The ball splattered on the body, the corruption drove itself into the body of the pony. She rose from the ground, her eye are as black as coal and corruption leaked out from her mouth and nose. The alicorn looked with horror. One of her, what I presume is one of her subjects, is now one of my puppets. Eyes deepening in terror, she asks. “What and who are you? You’re not human. No human can cast magic, let alone live on a magic filled world!”

“I am Corey Daniel Nguyen-Hansen, famed biologist of Earth and I’m indeed a human, 500 years ago at least. What am I on the other hand or in your case, hoof. I am something that should not even exist. When I first encountered the corruption, it consumed me like all the rest, but instead of enslaving me, I can force my will over it.” I released my hold on the pony, bring my previously mentioned hand up to my head, rubbing it and the alicorn’s expression changed into a sense of empathy. “You can hear them, can you?”

“Lady-“

“Celestia,” as she corrected me in a soothing voice. “Celestia. There is not one day were I can’t hear them! The souls beg, they beg for release, to end their torment. I did all I could to release some of them from their hell, but the corruption refuses to let more go. To some folk, they think I hear a few thousand, to me, I hear trillions. All dying over and over and over again, forced to watch them, helpless to do anything.”

I returned to a null state, mind dull. “I simply gave up.” Celestia, to my mystery nodded as if she was thinking of something. “I see.” She charged her horn and placed it on my head. With a stroke of luck, I was out and sound asleep like a baby.

So it is, the corrupt man sleeps once more. Isn’t he doll? Towns burn and lives torn asunder. Elements roam free, sending order askew. Yet so does corruption, but that’s only natural. What of the alicorn? None know her fate. Among the gods? Certainly not we. Six come, six go, with colors to boot. One studies hard, but is lazy to work. Another casts the death glare, none know fear like her. What of the others? We will not say. The mystery is always better when viewed from high. Come hither, we long for your embrace. Less the elements come, then the end is soon, they know hatred and prefer to use it. We take leave, tomorrow is another old day.

Chapter 1: We March

I wake of from my forced slumber. My eyes are still closed and all I can see is empty space. It feels like my limbs are as heavy as stone. I can’t say I feel anything, other than my hands and feet end in wooden stumps. My body aches, a cold sweat envelopes me. How long have I been asleep? My body continues to shiver. A thought popped in my head. Celestia. What little witch! She probably did not believe me and cursed my body with paralyses. When, if ever I get out of here, I will have her crucified and torture her loved ones in front of her forced open eyes, until she begs me to dissect her alive! My mind was whirling with anger, but I felt a presence, a thing, as I would call it, very similar to me.

I expanded my consciousness, “feeling” around for the presence I felt. Even though I couldn’t exactly see, because my mind wouldn’t allow me to manifest “eyes”, I could however, feel around for the energies that permeate through everything. For instance, I could tell if an object was a chair, table or potted plant, and where it was, just by feeling its aura. Unfortunately, telling if it was a t-rex, lady bug, blue, green or black. I would have a hard time, as auras do not exactly “fit” the body. This makes it hard to tell what exactly it is. For all I know, I could be a blue hedgehog. I continued to feel around with my mind, walls, doors and a few life forms, until I found what I was looking for, Corruption. I should have known.

What is what is it doing here? I felt something holding Corruption, it was a large pot of some kind. A cauldron maybe? It was speaking to another entity. I wonder what they’re talking about? I would merge my mind with Corruption, but expanding one’s mind is not an easy task. Mentally tired, I retracted myself back to my body and promptly passed out.

Celestia gracefully sits on her throne. Perched on top of a golden platform, raising her body high into the air to show everyone that she was not a lowly commoner, but of royal blood, no one would dare argue that she was not the undisputed ruler of her kingdom. Her throne room was lined with stain glass windows, each depicting an event throughout Equestria’s history. From the advent of Nightmare Moon to the defeat of Discord, by the hooves of the six Elements of Harmony, strangely enough, it also showed the future and possible outcomes. Banners hanged high, displaying the might and majesty of the solar and lunar crest, each representing their respective princess.

A lush red carpet ran from the dais, where the princess sat, to a steel gray cauldron, no more than thirty paces away. Corruption, the vile ooze that lay in the pot. Black as charcoal and thick as tar, it bubbled, like if there was flame beneath it. It did not show steam, nor was it hot, it was whether cold to the touch. With both beings satisfied with their surroundings, Celestia spoke to the bubbly liquid.

“I told you, I can’t have him running around in the current stated that he’s in.” Celestia said, unsure if her guest would understand having a human running around Equestria, would cause mass hysteria. Humans have not been seen in over 1,500 years, and a sudden introduction of one would be far from pleasant, especially with this human, he is far from being a hero, but not quite a villain as most would think.

“Why a pony? Female no less, we have come to terms with form, we have many. We know of such implications, ‘tis cliché. Though, we do have to admit, you are a master of stone, crafting a statue of flesh and bone. Beauty like nothing we’ve seen, many claim, but so few stand.” As if Corruption was expecting something like this to happen.

“I understand your concern. Ponies are the most common being in this country of Equestria, and as for turning him female, well, let’s just say we mares are running things here. I do have to agree, I could have turned him into a griffon, but turning him into a mare still stands, he won’t go very far as a male. On the bright side he is a unicorn, so he will be able to use his powers without drawing attention to himself, and as an added bonus he can use magic.” Somewhat surprised, she could have sworn that Corruption read her mind. She also had a feeling of gratitude, it had complemented her on her craftsmanship. It was not every day she had to craft a new body from scratch; it was both tedious and hard, but the ending result was always worth it.

“Might as well slap a pair of wings on him and call Mary Sue along with her partner, Gary Stu. What will happen when your little ponies discover our little half cadaver has god like abilities? The he-she is limited, but even bugs will grow stronger. We are not worried about genders, such useless things, only meant for reproduction, but your kind turned it into a class. There are so many mares, way more than stallions. Not a surprise.” Sounding displeased with Celestia’s actions. Corruption preferred its deities kept their original forms, unless they chose otherwise. To it, genders were a mere tool used to make children. How can you have a child if no one has a gender?

It continued. “Since we are done talking about our little friend and his now nonexistent male genitalia. We would like bring up an issue about your previously attacked town.” Celestia cringed at the thought of having one of her settlements burned down. She could never again go back to that site ever again, not without crying many tears. Mutilated bodies of her subjects laid everywhere on the blood soaked ground. The human did offer a solution to her problems, but it was something she could not do. Sure, they were alive again, but they would be slaves to their own flesh. That was something she would not allow.

An uneasy feeling filled the room, her voice faltered. “What of Foalsom? And please, what should I call you? Calling you an ‘it,’ is hardly suiting.”

“Very well. You may refer to us as Corruption, and our false gender will be that of a he.” He replied

“I will see to it then. Please, continue with what you were going to say about Foalsom.” She replied back

“We know who attacked Foalsom-” shocked, Celestia shouted “What?!” slight anger overcame him. “Let us speak woman! Now… the ones who attacked Foooaaalsooomm, are called the League of Vices, or as you call them, Elements of Disharmony. We do not know much about them, other than their names, Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. These homunculi can be in the shape of any living creature, but will most likely be in the shape of your precious ponies, pitting brother against brother and sister against sister.”

Celestia didn’t know what to make of it. Her little ponies fighting, and possibly killing each other? The very thought of seeing her ponies fighting each other tore a hole in her heart. Ever since the war between Nightmare Moon and herself, she would go down to the old capital where the Everfree Forest now lays. So many lives were lost, all because of a small disagreement between her sister. Even with the old castle in ruins, she still could hear the restless spirits fight for their goddesses. It’s like what the human said, “You can free some of them from their torment, but the rest will remain,” but instead of giving up, she still, to this day does what she can to help the trapped souls.

A royal guard slams open the doors leading to the throne. It was horrid sight. One of his wings was completely snapped off. The other was dangling by the thread of his skin, exposing bone on both ends of his broken wing joint. A deep wide gash ran down diagonally from is neck to his chest, revealing part of his rib cage. Celestia couldn’t tell if his armor was painted red and his coat was already that color. The most disturbing thing however, was his face. The skin on his face was stretched back, eyes gouged out by a crude fork and tongue no longer present. “Fffffoooeeeeefeeeeeeiiiaaaaa!” he cried out. Right then, and right there, he collapsed on the floor, blood came out of his mouth by the pint. The blood than began to write itself on the floor next to the now deceased guard. “We are attacking one of your towns. Bodies lay on the street and the blood stains ground. Your town burns as we speak, and we now have slaves for the slaughter. Come and stop us, if you dare Celestia. Don’t bother with sending more guards; we have already dealt with the ones your sister sent. ”

Celestia nearly buckled under her own weight. Paralyzed in fear, not sure if she can make sense of the monstrosity she had just witnessed. “wha… wha… what,” stuttering under her own breath. “Celestia, not to make matters worse. Allow us to make sense of this. We may not be omnipotent, or omniscience, but we still maintain our omnipresence.” Spoke Corruption. Hesitantly, she nodded.

“A hamlet to the east of the wild forest, bodies mutilated and gutted dig into the ground. Blood of children and sacrifices line the streets and on the outside walls of the buildings that have not been burnt to a crisp. The tower of ivory stands proud and unscathed in center of the hamlet. In the tower of ivory, sits a child of the sky and her fading mother, she cries wondering if her mother will ever wake up again. The army of sin also hears the child’s pleading cries. Slowly, they carve a path of blood to the tower. The child’s fate is sealed. Or is it?”

Celestia understood the last part, she knew when it came to dealing with creatures like him, and there was always a price to pay. “What do you want?” Does he want land, a place to stay, or even worse, ponies?

“The only thing we ask in return for repealing the undesired, is your power.” Celestia’s eyes widen. “Not all of it mind you, but enough of it to allow us the control of stars.” She could not decide what to do. On one hoof, she would no longer needlessly risk the lives of her ponies to stop the invaders. On the other, Corruption would be able to take control of the stars themselves. In the end she knew what she had to do. Her kingdom came first, than herself. “Deal! But first you must prove yourself,” putting resolve back into her voice.

He was satisfied with the alicorn’s decision. “If it is a demonstration you want, rest assured. We will deal with this disturbance to prove our loyalty to the crown. When we get back however, we WILL discuss how and when we will get our payment.” Before the alicorn could say anything, the tar like substance floated above the pot and swirled around himself into a singularity, until nothing was left of Corruption.

Wooden cottages line a street on both sides. They appeared run down, as law was no longer relevant, thieves made their way into the now dead owners’ home. Ransacked what they though were valuable, and left the rest for rats to chew on. Unsurprisingly, bodies lay outside of the homes, mangled and dismembered. The horror written on their faces was priceless, eyes gouged out, faces dried out and tongues missing. Rivers of blood flowed out from the corpses, and collected into the street below, where it amasses into a larger stream of blood, where it than goes to the tower of ivory. The sky weeps red, clouds burn with fire and ash falls, staining the ground beneath it.

In the center of the street, the ground collapses, cutting off the stream off blood. In place of the hole, corruption fills it. This tar like substance boils, at the same time, a tendril of corruption slowly creeps along the ground, soaking up all the blood it touches. No more than ten feet away, it begins to collect itself. It forms a blob of sorts, growing in mass until it was tall as Celestia and 10 fold her weight. It than took shape, growing 10 heads tall (1 head=1 foot), with robust features. Its arms are black as its body, as it was muscular, ending in hands that could turn stone into dust. At the end if its 4 fingers and 1 thumb, claws dominated, pearly white, and sharp enough to cut steel, but do not let the white claws fool you, corruption leaks from it, rotting flesh with every touch. The legs were nothing special, taking the shape of a regular human’s foot and legs, only meant to keep this creature afloat. It did however, killed the ground with each step it took. The head also took its own unique shape; it looked like a bald human head. Featureless, having no mouth, nose or any other visible opening, it did however, have 4 round beady glowing yellow eyes, the glowing made the eyes twice as big. Strangely enough, even though the creature had no mouth, it still breathed, taking in 3 gallons worth of air, only to spew it out later, along with a black cloud, polluting the air around the creature. Corruption was born.

He looked around. It felt like the day when Paradise Estate fell. Red skies and clouds of fire, it brought a sense of nostalgia back to him. He found a platoon of 30 night guards, scattered on the ground. “They might come in use,” he mused to himself. He sent the same number of tendrils, they went toward the dead guards. They rose from the ground, eyes black and mouth leaking tar. He commanded the guards to form a box in front of him. They did so without question. Off in the distance, he could hear the cries of a child. Corruption took his army of taint and marched toward the tower of ivory.

End

Chapter 2: Bodily Harm

I took a rusted knife and painfully dragged it a crossed my throat. Blood poured out from the veins and arteries of my neck. That alicorn, Celestia, I think her name is? Looked at me with worry, the look in her eyes said that she cared, I hated it. She was on edged; she was ready to jump in a moment’s notice. To save the day! For Equestria! For Celestia! For her little ponies! Bah! A fool I am for coming under her care. I took the same knife and slammed it into my heart more times than I could keep track. My heart ached, not by the stab wounds that I had afflicted upon it, but there was a hole instead of a heart. The whole heart consumed by a hole. A black hole? Yet she still stands, not moving an inch, seeing with worry content.

Before I could provoke another stab wound, Celestia rapped me in a golden aura. Forcing the knife out of my not-hand, hoof is another way to put it. She lifted me to her, her face was not very happy; thankfully it was not angry either. I could hear her cry, tears streamed down her face. “Why? Why do you harm yourself? Tell me little one. What is the matter?” For a lack a better term I was angry, and it showed. My purple fur could turn red. I glared at her. I felt I could literally shoot daggers from my eyes. “What is the matter? WHAT IS THE MATTER?! I have tried to commit several accounts of suicide! RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!” I would try and force my way out of her telekinesis, but I am not a fool, I’m too weak to even attempt a stunt like that. She nodded her head, disapproving of what I had just said. She brought me in closer and nuzzled my blood stained neck. I could not help but to grimace a little bit over the pain I felt. In a true motherly fashion, she spoke with such a soft and tender voice and spoke in clarity. Her voice could sooth any feral beast, and brings a smile to any child no matter grief stricken the child was.

“Sshh, calm yourself. You can tell me. I promise that nopo- no one will think less of you, for they won’t know. I promise upon my crown and my honor, no one will know, but only if you tell me what’s wrong.” I took a deep breath and sighed. I guess it’s no use fighting, better get this done and over with. “If I must. Where to start? Ah! Immortality, it has been 500 years. I watched everyone I know die. They pass, and they pass, and they pass, everyone I know has succumbed to the revenges of time. They age so quickly and here I stand motionless. One person dies today and another dies tomorrow. Years into months, into days, into hours, into minuets! Time flies much faster than an arrow from my perspective. I envy the dead; they pass on to meet their loved ones. But I, I’m stuck in this accursed realm, doomed to watch death and decay,” my bloody forelegs cover most of my face. Water ran down my face and on to my legs.

Celestia took me to a large bathroom, it looked rather plain, just a sink, mirror, toilet and bathtub. Granted, the bathroom looked like it was made out of alabaster and gold. She sat me down and ran the water in the sink, soaking a pure white washcloth and slowly began to wipe the blood from my coat, being careful not to touch my self-inflicted wounds. Starting at my neck, I tilted my head upward. She went along the base of my cut, wiping off all of the blood until nothing but purple fur shined. Than down to my chest, it was not as easy as my neck. Holes littered my chest, but to my surprise she was already done before she even started. She put the now blood soaked rag in the sink. From under the sink she magiced a roll of bandages, rapping it around my neck, than around my torso, felt really soft. I had injuries before, and every time a bandage is applied, it stung like hell. But this is painless, she is being very gentle.

I just sat there on the floor wiping any stray tears with my fore hoof. “There! All done!” she smiled at me. That’s funny. her muzzle is covered in my blood. I wonder how long it will take for her to realize that she has blood on her muzzle. Imagine how awkward it would be if a pony was to walk up to their princess and see blood on her face. The amount of blank staring or quaking in fear would be very entertaining, to me at least. It’s like she ate me out or… never mind. “I have gotten all of your certifications ready; all we need now is a name.”

“A name, huh?” I pondered this fact. I could use the hidden meaning in my human name. Nah. Might as well make it a pony name, I hope to god that my old enemies don’t fine me. Okay, purple coat, black with white stripped mane and tail. Black-white-purple mare? Might as well call myself Nocturne Fortune, not the best choice of words, but I could worse. With the way I have been acting lately and with my luck, this is going to be a fun name. So fun! CAN YOU FEEL THE FUN? I sure can’t! I sighed, not wanting to go through the process of finding a new name. “Nocturne Fortune, that is my name. Call me Noc for short.” On a side note: why am I a mare? If this is a play by fate, then I am one unlucky bastard. Though, not as unlucky as the worlds I have conquered. For corruption! Oh god. Why can’t I kill myself? Right, immortality, cursed to live in a living hell.

A guard spoke. Wait? What? How long has he been standing there? “Princess, the test results have come in.”

“Thank you. You may return to your duties, I will take it from here.” Celestia took a small stack of papers from the guard. The guard just flat out walked away, no emotions, he was just a stone statue that walked away. Did he even see the blood splat on Celestia’s muzzle? If so, than I’m scared, is this a normal thing that happens around here? She ran the papers under her eyes three times. ”Nocturne! I would like to congratulate you are your master’s!” she beamed with excitement. I looked at her with a very confused and very blank look. “What?” No really, what?

“It says it right here,” she pointed a hoof at a letter that was enclosed within the stack of papers.

Dear Princess Celestia,

The foreigner has shown a remarkable aptitude in several scientific fields. Though, her lack of knowledge in Magic Theory and Thaumaturgy is… disturbing. Her knowledge in the scientific field more than make up for her lack in magic, we have compared her models, particularly those of biological, and have compared it with our current models. I must say, her models work succeedingly with our current models. However, I am concerned about one model. Crystalline soul model explains a lot about souls, but I am still unable to. I request that she sees me and my colleagues 3 months from now so she may explain herself. One more thing, I congratulate her on receiving her master’s degree. Though, she will need to come in one more time to do some extra paper work, before she actually becomes a master.

Sincerely,

Prof. Professor

I got a degree from taking a test? Granted, it did say college-level examination, but I did not know what that meant, you know, alien words. Now I do. I find this just a little, if not completely absurd. It takes years of studying to even get a master’s! Oh fuck it. I too tired argue with the system. Technically, I don’t have it yet, but Celestia seems confident. “Celestia, no doctorates?”

“Those are reserved for those who choose to become doctors, my little pony.” My little pony? I didn’t do anything wrong, did I? Never mind. “Now that you are ready, it’s time to visit the doctor,” does she say everything with a genuine smile?

“Yea, yea, just get me a shirt. Don’t want everypony to look at my bandages.”

My deep purple fur is now a ghostly white, my face was once again covered in tears. Both my former arms and hind legs were tangle around some of unfortunate pony’s leg. I looked up at Celestia, my eyes big as dinner plates. I knew that she said that we’re going to the doctor, but she didn’t tell me it was a gynecologist. A damn gynecologist! Don’t get me wrong, he was pretty nice. Don’t know why he’s a gynecologist though, pervert. “He took a speculum, than another speculum! Aaaaghhh aaghgahgahgha,” it is safe to say that I was on the floor, flailing my limbs in all sorts of directions. I know what those horrible devices are used for, holy crap though. Having one if those things shoved up your, where the sun don’t shine, does not provoke happy thoughts.

Everyone, excuse me, everypony’s faces were either blood red or, I have no idea face. Celestia on the other hand was just standing there. She still has blood on her muzzle. Is she going to take care of that? Scratch that, her face is red as a rose.

I was sitting at a table next to a Miss Twilight Sparkle. I am minding my own business. My mind is wondering all over the place, royal guards, roses, tulips and a plush pillow that has a flank firmly planted on it. A garden, correction, royal garden, my head is placed on the table. Looking at Twilight, than at a tea cup on the other side of the table, I took my right hoof and struggled for the tea cup. It was on the other side of the table, and I can only reach halfway. I tried not only twice, but thrice, each time shaking my entire foreleg in frustration. She looked at me with a confused look. To her, I must look like a unicorn foal, unable to do anything that requires magic. That didn’t stop me.

I levitated the cup and brought it toward me. I took a few sips of my tea before I shot a glance over at Twilight. Her jaw hung open; Irises were the size of a pin head. “How are you even doing that?” Am I missing something? I thought unicorns could levitate stuff.

“Doing what?” I replied back.

“How are you levitating that cup without the use of magic?” Oh, that’s what I’m missing. I placed the cup back on the table. “Well, let us start with Conscious Doctrine and Soul Principle,” rolling my eyes. I have never been one to explain things to other people. Doesn’t mean I’m bad at explaining, I just don’t like too.

Corruption made his way toward the ivory colored clock tower. He had made haste, him and his army was there before both Luna’s night guard and the other opposing army. On the way to the clock tower he increased his army’s size considerably, it was no longer a platoon of 30 guard, but was now 345 strong. Possessing any dead guards on his way, taking the bodies of dead civilians was not a bad idea. However, unlike the guards, they were not trained warriors, even if he was to increase the potency of the body. Any half decent army would destroy any hope of an attack. Even though he had bolstered his very small army, he couldn’t help but to think.

“This is strange. An army for and army, one lays dead, but where is the other?” Normally when two armies fight each other there tends to be limp bodies on either side, or some sort of markings denouncing the act of one. Corruption stood still, gazing at the tower. He heard soft sobbing coming from the tower. It was the child that was mentioned earlier. He crept toward the tower, listening to the child’s cries in the process. Placing one of his hands on the tower, and then gently bringing it down off the wall. Looking at his hand, he clenched it into a fist. “Sob, sob, sob. Are these creatures empty? To leave a newborn in ruin, revenged by the filth in the world, we are not different, but we are not monsters.”

“Enclose the tower! Eyes as an eagle, the prey draws near, do not let them pass, but aid thy kin,” he spoke to his army. They did as instructed, silently circling the tower. Putting forth their blackened eyes, judging their surroundings for any sign of movement, Corruption turned back to the clock tower. He was in search an entrance. After going half way around the tower, he found what he was looking for. A plain wooden door, hardly fitting for a tower made of stone, it was stricken with wood rot, and its hinges are rusting. He thought about breaking the door down, but went for a more subtle course of action.

His amorphous body melted beneath the door and reformed on the other side. On the inside tower it look just as untouched as it was on the outside, except there was a trail of blood leading from the door to the top of the tower. He made is way to the top. A pegasus filly has her head buried into her mother’s side. She held her mother in her arms, gently nudging her mother. “Mommy, why won’t you wake up?” The filly than began to effortlessly shook her mother. Corruption watched as she cradled her mother’s head, her head meeting her mother’s. “Wake up,” a silent cry came from her. What she saw next stunned her. Her dinner plate sized eyes met with his beady eyes.

She turned pale. What is this creature that stands before her? Her mind could not fathom what this being was. She shivered while looking at him. Convulsing some more, her breathe hasted. “Please… don’t hurt me…” He approached the filly, she was lime green in color and her mane was a lovely shade of blue. Her cutie mark was not present. Her and Corruption and the same yellow colored eyes, both staring intently at each other. She stiffened, unmoving to the creature that comes.

He looked at the dead mare, than at the fear stricken filly. He thought for a few moments, choosing his words carefully, as to not panic her more. “You’re not the bad man.” She spoke first. He tilted his head in confusion. “No. We suppose not. Nor do we look for harm. Your mother sleeps an eternity, rested by sin, but you still shake your love.” That hurt the filly, she knew her mother was dead, but she denied it. She hoped with enough pleading, her mother would wake up and they could all leave this nightmare. Everything would be back to normal. Sun shine and rainbows everywhere.

He took note of her actions, thinking of what he had just done, he attempted to calm the filly. Speaking in a softer tone of voice. “We did not mean to be brutal, we can offer you imbursement, fairy you away from the filth, into the hooves of someone more competent than the world around you. Your mother did all she could, but the world failed in this aspect. The bad man will not come to infest you.”

He picked her up, much to her dismay, and held her in his arms. She was not afraid of the creature that picked her up anymore. She was far from being happy. Her fur was covered in a tar like substance; she tried to wiggle her way through his arms, to no avail. When that failed, she placed a hoof onto his chest, slowly rubbing, feeling the sticky mass forming around her hoof. She pulled her hoof away, finding that, what scenically was tar, stuck to her hoof. Some of the tar was still attached to Corruption, forming a bridge from her hood to his chest. “Eeewwww…”

Something was not right. He knew that the surrounding area was silent, save for the chattering his minions did. Through his mind, they would speak to him; he could hear all of their thoughts. When he thought an order, they did as commanded, without him muttering a word. In this instance, they were hushed, no thought, just soundless air.

“Oh, little child, little child. Where have you gone? Father Pride wants to play once more!”

“The bad man! Please, don’t let him take me away, like he did with mommy,” she began to tear up, grasping her forelegs partially around Corruption’s chest.

“But magic is the only way you could have done it! There is no way you could use your “psychic” power to pull off something like that!” cried Twilight.

“Don’t underestimate consciousness, you will be surprised how much it shapes your outer and inner world.”

“But!” Twilight, I understand that allow you know is magic, and unicorns can use magic. I’m a human by heart and soul, humans can’t use magic to shape their world, but we do have our minds. Mind over matter.

End