Phantom
The moon rose into the black sky, casting a long dark shadow behind the statue of none other than Discord, a mere statue rather than a movable being. The moonlight reflected off the rough stone, showing an almost marble like color. Once the glorious king of chaos, he was a statue once again. But he had a plan—a plan that would bring Celestia's reign to a chaotic ending. They had all been so foolish. Had they really thought that he would be defeated so easily, that he was base enough to not have a backup plan?
Most have forgotten the war, the war that tore Equestria in two. It was probably better that they have forgotten. Two sides disrupted the peace: one led by Celestia herself; the other by her sister, Princess Luna. Most had called Luna just a power hungry traitor, alone in her war. But there were others, others that fought for the truth, who fought alongside her. Phantom was one of them.
It all started 1002 years ago, when Equestria was war torn. They say that history repeats itself; well, let us see just how accurate that saying is.
In Canterlot, Princess Celestia was having time to herself, and enjoying it, for that matter. Just as well, for she rarely had the opportunity with all her royal duties. It was then that she felt it, felt the crushing pure power that was unleashed, power that should have been locked away; far, far away. “No, it can’t be,” she replied.
"Yes, princess?” her oldest guard answered immediately.
She reacted quickly. “Put everyone on alert, and call in Twilight and her friends. We have a big problem.” She shuddered. Not this. Not now. And she had just made amends with Luna. This can only end badly; very badly. The being that was trapped –or had been –in the moon would not forget. He wouldn't forgive.
THE MOON
Now all I have to do is wait, Phantom thought as he glanced around his prison of over a century: the moon.
Glancing around the rocky crater-covered surface, he thought to himself. So many ponies would love to come to the moon. But I know from experience that after 5 years you lose any idea of what to do. It fills me with anger that Celestia could get away with this for so long. The moon; what a prison! 1002 years... how had he kept any hold on sanity? And that was assuming he had any sanity left to his name. An endless nothing for eons could drive even the strongest of the strong out of their minds. But Phantom was not exactly your normal pony.
Thinking back to his foal days with Luna and his friends, he remembered Luna teaching him the ways of the night. He started to zone out, and then a sudden feeling of power surged in him. Reflexively, he swung his black, dragon-like wings in an arc. A green laser appeared and, with speed and power, smashed into a small boulder, vaporizing it. He chuckled at the power he held, as it honed in a manner he doubted was ever taught anymore.
Smiling, he kicked off, launching into the air, but as he reached around a mile in the air, he rammed into what felt like thick glass. Stunned for just a second, he tried ramming it again. Ever since others had recently taken over the power of the Elements of Harmony, the barrier had been very weak. This is mostly due to the fact that new-found Elements of Harmony didn’t even know of its existence. The only reason that Phantom hadn’t broken out yet was because he was waiting for a certain signal. But nothing happened, no response.
Frustrated, he swung his wings again. They slammed against the shield with a shaking thud, shattering it, and the rest of it began breaking apart like glass. He then continued on heading to take his revenge on Celestia! Now all but one piece of his plan was there, for he had the soldiers; now he just needed his commanders. Discord would disorient the enemy, while Chrysalis would provide him with even more soldiers. Phantom didn't care what happened to her, she was nothing to him. Since he was up against an army, however, he would take all the help he could get.
Equestria looked so small from all the way up here. The whole world looked like a sparkling gem, just waiting to be taken. Luna would rise again, just as he had promised her all those years ago.
The Royal guard was on full alert. Shining Armor was getting the guards ready, and colts and mares were all scrambling for their weapons and equipment. What they didn't know was some among them didn’t belong. Really, it wasn't their faults. How could they have been expected to notice intruders in the most secure city in Equestria, and during the highest threat level they had? And that was exactly why it had been planned as such.
A slim, black coated female Pegasus, followed by two heavily armored body guards, trailed down the hallways of the barracks. They were empty due to the commotion topside. They silently followed three guards around to a small room outside the barrack walls. The guards had taken notice, but decided to wait until getting into the room for an advantage. The lead guard spun around as soon as they entered the room, spear at the ready followed by his companions. But before they could react, she barreled into the lead guard, immediately knocking him out.
She quickly slashed the guard to her right, then swung up and kicked the guard to her left before he could move. The guards never got back up. “You two!” she hissed, green eyes flashing, and pointed to the unconscious guards, “Get their attire on!” The colts nodded and proceeded to hide the bodies in a spare closet in the back on the sun lit room and put the clothes on. Infiltration part one, successful.
Walking over to the window, she looked out over the Castle landscape and sighed. She knew what would become of this beautiful place; destruction is all that would come in the events ready to unfold. Too much went on in her head, and it often made her think back to the times before. Yet that was a different age, and she had been different. After watching for a moment, she remembered her mission.
And with speed that Rainbow Dash would be proud of, she crouched, took off, and flew toward the Everfree Forest. That had been one of her favorite places when she was younger. Those dark, mist-soaked trees and all of the exotic flowers in every color imaginable had captivated her. The calls of unknown birds and animals echoed throughout the entirety of the forest. Others feared it, mostly because of ancient myths. But nothing had ever held any fear for her. With all that had transpired, she had little emotion left anyway.
Glancing down at the dark trees under her, she felt comforted by the darkness. It empowered her, made her feel safe. A small light appeared and she dived toward the forest, feeling the wind pass her, seeing the ground coming closer. But she spread her wings out just before impact, making a graceful landing. A large cave stood to her right, and she walked towards it. She walked into the wide entrance, never glancing at the dust-covered walls and the floor scattered with rocks, some as big as her. After entering, it revealed a giant base of operations.
The cave had been hollowed out to become a massive cavern. There were several levels wrapping around the edge of the wall of the cave, with stairs connecting them. Straight ahead, a small battalion of troops all stood in formation at the center of the room in the center on the main floor. Turning to her right, she continued on walking, past numerous mares and colts, probably several hundred, thinking to herself: Ha! They think I am unforgiving? Wait ‘till they finally meet Phantom.
They had been quick to underestimate her, but it hadn’t taken long to show them who was in charge. Smiling, thinking of her friend, she turned, walking to a room at the end of the hallway she had entered, full of all too familiar faces she knew from watching the new Elements of Harmony’s actions.
To her left sat Queen Chrysalis and Trixie, and to her right were Gilda and a hooded figure whom she did not recognize. She walked to the front of the table and sat down. “Well?” she said, turning to the guards standing against the walls.
“Ma'am?” A smaller red colt stepped forward. “Where are our final guests?”
Suddenly, a loud scraping sound made everyone turn to see none other than Discord—still a statue—and to his right, Screw Ball, standing at the entrance to the conference room. Screwball was panting at the effort of dragging the heavy form of her beloved daddy so far. She positioned him at the table and stood at attention next to him. It’s about time! she thought to herself, and then said aloud, “Welcome! I have assembled you here for one purpose: to give you all a proposal.”
“Proposal? What kind of proposal?” Chrysalis asked, showing signs of interest in her face. She had her right leg propped up on her left, obviously damaged in her subsequent fall after being shot out of Canterlot.
“If you help our operation to overthrow Celestia, you will all get seats of power.” The mare held her shoulders high, showing her power and position, lest these runts get any ideas about who was in charge.
“And what do you want with the Great and Powerful Trixie?" asked Trixie. She stood, plain curiosity painted on her face. She normally didn't roll with this type of crowd, but she had been promised fame, and that was worth the price of her company. "Anyone with a grudge against Celestia or Twilight and her friends will be useful. All we ask is that you give us your full cooperation.”
"We plan to do a full frontal assault with the help of our spy’s that have been planted into Canterlot.” The mare said. The mood in the room hung with incredulity and intrigue.
“We want you to help us.” She shrugged.
“Ha!” spat Chrysalis. “You honestly expect to defeat Celestia and all of the royal guard in a frontal assault?” Chrysalis still had the scars from her recent attempt. She gave the black-coated mare an almost contemptuous look. Having so recently failed doing the exact same thing, it was impossible that someone to her that someone could manage to do what she couldn’t; especially in a frontal assault where scheming and subterfuge had failed!
“Yes I do.” A new, deeper voice said.
Everyone turned to see a dark black colt with eyes similar to Chrysalis, but dark red. His wings were similar to a dragon's, covered in numerous sharp spikes. He had black armor on his hooves and head, similar to many of Luna’s guards. Walking in, he nodded to the black mare. "Hello Mira,” he said. Then he turned his attention to the others in the room. “I will crush Celestia, and I am simply asking if you want to be a part of it. You will be rewarded, of course.” Formality was not something he was used to, so he didn’t even bother.
Phantom was a tall, well-built stallion. A veteran fighter and competent leader, he was more than capable of doing what he intended. But the real power that he held was not in his strength or quick intellect; it was in his broken mind. He was quite psychotic. He hadn’t lost his brutally sharp mind. He was a perfect monster. Almost all of his happy memories were gone or forgotten. The ones that did remain he kept locked in a dark recess in the back of his mind, and he rarely let himself dwell on them. It made him feel too vulnerable, too weak.
He stood tall now, though and awaited a response. He didn’t have to wait long. Gilda spoke up in her usual crass tone.
“That's a stupid plan. I don't care about rewards, I'm outta here. Later, losers,” Gilda sneered rudely as she leaped out of her seat to leave. She barely got one step when Phantoms words stopped her.
“As you wish.” Phantom quickly swung his wing in an arc sending a blue crescent shaped edge of crackling blue energy that hit Gilda squarely in the chest. With a screech, she fell back stunned as she gradually turned to stone. She tried to struggle against it but to no avail. After the spread of the petrification had finished, she simply crumbled. A silence came over the room. Everyone stared stunned.
“Serves her right,” said Chrysalis, nervously looking around to see if the others were as disturbed by this impressive show of power. “I'm in.” Slowly, the others agreed as well, with Screw Ball speaking for her and Discord.
Nodding, Phantom walked over to Discord, putting a hoof on the statue. A blur of green light slowly overtook the statue, making it crumble as the chunks of rock fell to the floor. "I will keep my end of the bargain,” he said. Backing away, he revealed the now free Discord.
Phantom locked eyes with Discord and said slowly, "Remember. I. Am. The. Boss."
A smile flitted across Discords face. Oh no, he could never deprive such a wonderful fountain of rage and power from the one thing it desired. Phantom could take the lead on this one. Glancing around, Discord sniffed. "Very well.”
And then the villains began putting together their plan. Once again, a smile spread onto Discords lips. He had put this together himself, so he was confident, but this was just so perfect. Celestia wouldn’t know what had hit her. And by then, well, it would be over.
The moon hung large and brightly in the night sky. Such an incredible place, the center of this intricate web of follies; its cratered surface seemed to beam, almost like a warning to those entering into this struggle. It was a beautiful cosmic gem that sparkled with a wonderful brilliance, on this night more than any other since, and for the last time for a much longer time.
BACK IN CANTERLOT
“Princess, Twilight and her friends are here, per your request,” said an older guard standing to
Celestia’s right. He stood tall, but his usual firmness had fled him. Celestia hadn’t said much about this ‘unimaginably powerful threat’, but what she had said unsettled him.
“Good. Send them in.” He nodded his affirmation and started to walk down the red rug that ran the length of the majestic and proud royal hall.