Prologue: And so the tale begins...
Prologue: And so the tale begins...
By Epocalyse
Screams surrounded me, masses upon masses of darkened creatures flooding homes, the cold dread of terror spreading across Canterlot. What had happened? The usually blue sky was now dulled to a disturbing ebony as a hum of many insectoid wings fluttering filled the air. Repugnant vermin swarmed in mobs, buzzing insect-like wings as their iridescent eyes glowed with a hunger. The golden aura once surrounding the city was oozing with a sickly green, the gleaming steeples of shining towers squirming with hollow shells.
I was stuck fast, golden eyes tilted towards the blackened sky, trembling in the face of doom. mesmerized by the swift downfall. I shuddered, quivering like an aspen leaf as my coat pricked.
These…things, what are they? Their bodies were ponylike in nature, but it was almost like their essence of life drained, leaving a soulless corpse behind. Then I realized these things weren't even pony: they are monsters.
Backing up, I apprehendedly took uneasy steps, wobbling with every one. I started to run. My head pounded with adrenaline as it pumped around my body, burning with a raging fire.
A pang of fear sprung up as a luminous blue filly suddenly appeared in my path. I skidded and stopped right in front of her, looking into the unicorn’s soul as panic struck her eyes, dilating to tiny pinpricks. Time froze. And in that one moment I gazed into those depths.
“Help me”
Out of nowhere a monster struck her down, drooling on her sky-blue coat and licking his lips earnestly as if it hadn't eaten in a month. Sooner than I could react its teeth glittered in the sun as its black mouth slowly became agape. I watched in horror as the life was drained from her. Her body crumpled to the ground, withering like a dying blossom. A cloud of dust flew up in my face and I coughed. Where in Celestia are the guards? The monster turned to me. Realizing that any more time spent here will quickly result in my impending death, I galloped away, leaving the poor youngster to fend for her own.
I had to get to my katana; it was the only thing that I could wield that would even have a remote chance of helping ponies in this time of crisis. The agile blade is the one thing I knew was not tainted by the seeping sludge the monsters left behind. It was enchanted many years ago on my way along the journey through the Everfree forest by a mysterious creature with a ward to repel any unwanted substances or curses that may occur while travelling in solitude.
Since then I had put my combat to rest, to become a peaceful pony, not unlike who you would see everyday in the streets of Canterlot, even though my talents lay with sword fighting, even my cutie mark showed it so. Now was the time to remember again: to become a warrior.
Just as I begin to see my home over the curvature of the hill I felt a small tear of a sharpened projection on my hamstring, dragging me to a slow halt. I slowly drew around, anticipating worse as a cold sweat broke out. A monster was hooked there, right where bubbles of pain where exploding.
My mouth opened into a scream, though all that could come out was a pitiful squeak. It only chattered in response, seemingly mocking my fear.
"Lunchtime." It said.
My eyes enlarged upon realizing the thing could speak. "What d-d-do you want with me?"
It chattered again, the harsh tone vibrating along my delicate eardrums. "To get your love of course...every last drop."
Without any warning I abruptly jerked my hoof away from the monster, catching it unaware as it fell to the floor, the whites of it's eyes lolling with disarray as it tried to collect it's bearings.
I had to get away as fast as possible, this was my last chance to be of any help to anypony, a slight one at that, but none-the-less it was the least I could do. I was desperate as the dark descended further on the city, a desolation so intense that every fiber of my body was urging me on, far beyond what I could do and almost into flight, even though I was only a simple unicorn. My heart was beating in time to the clopping of my feet, working in a synchronized unit, mechanized beyond emotion.
I grimaced with the pain as blood streamed out of my thigh.
"Come on."
I focused straight ahead, letting nothing distract me, not even the wound on my leg. I wondered, did I actually have to do this? These monsters were still creatures, they lived, breathed. Heck they even eat!
A monster suddenly confronted me, its eyes pointed like daggers, boring deep holes into mine. Pushing myself once more, I dropped my head, leveling my horn so it aimed straight for its chest. My horn pierced its carapace. I heard a gasp of agony, maybe even relief as I flung it to the side. I lurched as a clear liquid splashed against my mouth, bitter like bile.
I crashed into the door, shallow breaths racking my body. My hoof reached up, shivering, and I pushed it against the door. Locked. Crying with panic, I banged against the door, recoiling at every ripple. My ear twitched, hearing the familiar, ominous laughter once more.
"Just leave me ALONE!"
"Well what would be the fun of that?" The monster closed in, blocking any possible routes of escape.
I closed my eyes, wincing, preparing for the final bite. "I'm sorry mother," I opened them again, "Please... make it quick."
"Oh, I shall."
The monster advanced towards me, his tail flicking with bemusement. Suddenly I felt woozy and collapsed, mentally and physically defeated. Maybe death isn't so bad after all.
The blue was the last colour I saw before it went dark.
