The Corrupt Man

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.