War, death, evil, and corruption all co-exist happily, and are causes of each other. But unfortunately, the world isn't a fantasy, it doesn't have happy endings, these forces will always find a way, and nothing will ever stop them.

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"Should we intervene?"

"No."

"He will destroy everything."

"That is his goal."

"What is your plan then?"

"This will be his test."
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Celestia tears her gaze from the window. She had been standing there all night, and hadn't gotten a second of sleep. She realized that her end was coming, and there was nothing she could do about it. Anything that could survive ten thousand years of a hostile environment, be tortured endlessly, manipulate others into freeing it, and destroy an entire mountain range in the process of escaping, was something that would ultimately bring doom. She realized there was no point, but something inside of her told her to fight back. Rebel against Death and become the most powerful being in all of creation. Most of the other gods were dead, and only a few legends remained. She was sure that this had been the reaper's doing, but who ever said that he didn't like a challenge? In those ten thousand years that Death was away she, herself, had found an artifact of amazing power. She'd left it where it had been ever since she found it, but it still called to her. He had made it himself. Formed out of solid shadow and forged in the blackest of fire. Attached was a note written in demon's blood, leaving a message for her.

When I break free from this cursed prison, fuse this with your armor and wear it at all times.

It was engraved into her memory 300 years ago, and she remembers it as clearly as what she ate for lunch a few hours ago. Just then there was a knocking sound.

"Princess, what happened? It looks like Luna is trying to attack the castle out there." A much older vision of Shining armor asked though the slightly open door.

Poor Cadance couldn't stand to lose her husband, so she declared him a legend while he was holding the shield during the changeling invasion, not that anyone remembers that anymore.

"It would be wise for you to stop guessing. You'll find out what's happening soon enough." Celestia's usually cheery voice was now dark and solemn.

"Something is very wrong isn't it, princess?"

"Would you like to remember?"

"What kind of question is that? I can remember everything major, but nothing like this." He was getting more worried by the second. He wasn't used to his princess acting like this.

"You remember nothing. No fear for ten thousand years. Everyone living so much longer, isn't a coincidence. No danger of famine because of the crops not dying anywhere isn't a random thing that happens!" Celestia was starting to lose it.

"Breath princess. Remember to breath. Clearly I don't know about this thing that you speak of, so let me remember. I wan't to help." The captain of the guard said calmly.

The god of the sun let out a deep breath, and drew back the magical curtain shielding his memories. Shining Armor, saw the city below him being slaughtered with prejudice too extreme for him to comprehend. Innocent ponies were ripped limb from limb and eaten raw by oversized insects that the royal guard had been breeding for hundreds of years, because they seemed harmless. Things that can only be described as demons were scaling the walls and ripping the guards from the ledges. This invasion was all being conducted by a solitary figure. A robed shadow clad in black and fire, fighting against heaven with the power of hell. The brave guard wanted to run home, and hide himself and his wife in container strong enough that nothing would break it.

"Who is this?" Shining asked with shaking words.

"It is Death itself." The queen of day said, trying to stay courageous where her guard had failed.

The shadows of the room began to lengthen, and pool into a rapidly forming mass. Swirling like a liquid into a humanoid shape, and hardening in an instant. Standing before the immortals in all of its glory was the cloaked entity itself. Greying cloak flowing in a dying wind that was nowhere to be found, shadows obscuring every physical feature, and the coldest light from the most crimson fire taking the place of the creature's eyes. The keeper of the damned had come into the world once more.

"Are you going to stand there, or call the guards?" It asked in a voice like a wolf that could never stop growling.

"Have you come to end this?" Celestia asked calmly.

"I have come to make an announcement to your people."

The window in front of him shattered as a small shadow seemed to crush it beneath its weight. The solidified darkness carried the reaper down into the massed crowd almost reverently. The panic and fear were overwhelming, but the various species of animals stepped aside, as the cloaked harbinger moved to the center of the crowd. The shadows under it formed a ramp until it was standing still, ten feet above the tallest minotaur, on a pedestal of shadows. The column of darkness was still and shining to the point where it looked like polished marble, and the creature atop it, began to speak to its audience.

"I can imagine you are all very scared." The growling rang out across the crowd as everything fell silent.

The guards looked to Celestia, who shook her head.

"There is a war coming, and your precious sun cannot save you. I stand here and preach, while she sits and stares! But this is not the point of this. Your memories have been chained away, in the darkest corners of your mind. Half of you should be dead, the other half should be skeletons."

"And how do you know this?" A royal accent rang from the massive crowd.

"Because this is the tragedy of life. Everyone around you is trying to get the best of you. Take the pony who pointed this out for you."

Shadows grabbed the white coated, black maned unicorn that spoke out, and lifted him into the air.

"They are all liars. Like funeral pyres!"

The unicorn exploded into flames and his screams echoed through the city proclaiming the pain of charred flesh as his body floated away in cinders, and the crowd started murmuring to each other.

"Nothing is ever dead, you see. For I carry their souls with me."

"Stop right there! You have committed crimes against Equestria and her people! What say you in your defense?" A royal guard demanded.

"A letter from a mother, across the sea."

An envelope made of black paper floated on the wind, and got caught in the armor of the guard.

"To a son in a box, buried beneath." It calmly growls, as the shadows form a luxurious coffin around the guard and melt into the pavement.

The masses started to move uneasily.

"This cannot go on princess." Shining said to the alabaster alicorn standing next to him.

"Do you want to stop him?" She said coldly, never taking her gaze away from Death.

"For whom the bell tolls?" ,the bell tower started its daily chiming, "It tolls for thee!" It growls, and lifts a hand towards the princess of the sun.

Everything in the square started to panic.

"For whom she saw, when she put you all to sleep!"

Some started to move away.

"A deal with the devil, is a deal with me. But some cannot pay, much like that guard, who ignored his poor mother."

The shining column of blackness opened, and the guard walked out with ebony armor, and blackened eyes.

"Go forth child. Make me proud!" The final growl is drowned out by the swirling of the shadows.

The shadows cover the creature and they hurtle vertically into the shield bubble, causing the entire thing to shake as new shadows join with old ones.

"Everyone calm down! Guards! Arrest the corrupt soldier! There is no need for alarm!" Shining armor pleaded with the refugees and barked at the guardsmen.

Celestia stood alone in her balcony, shaking her head slowly. The thoughts running through her head were unspeakable, but must be done to ensure survival. She turned slowly, and walked back into her private chambers. And as she searched for the hidden artifact, she finally saw a small light of hope among the churning night that would be staying for unknown amounts of time.

Author's Note

New start to a new story, isn't it wonderful? I'm glad to be writing this after such a long break from the series, but I would still like to know about any problems people might have with it. All constructive criticism and compliments are accepted.