//------------------------------//
// Chapter One 
// Story: Judgement is Magic 
// by Davidism 
//------------------------------//

Princess Celestia read the letter through a third and final time, her eyes going over every line, and finally settling on the complimentary close, and signature. Her brow was heavy, and her eyes wore a stern expression, as she resisted the urge to reread it a fourth time.
Bringing the document down, she folded it, and looked out from her dais, regarding the four ponies that had arrived moments before. “Surely this is some mistake.”
“I assure you, your Highness, this is no mistake.” The response had come from a sickly black pony, that stood precariously on four wobbly hooves; her coat so tattered and wretched, it gave the impression of a pony that had spent months starving in the bottom of a rotting trash can.
Setting the folded letter next to her on the floor, Celestia regarded the four ponies. “But why now? And with no advanced notice?”
Clearing her throat, a pale green mare spoke up to answer, her voice a ghostly whisper. “Oh but there was notice, your Highness. The race of man was given ample warning two and a half millennia ago. That they ignored it as myth and folly, is a tragedy of their own intellectual short-sightedness.”
Closing her eyes, Celestia could feel her heart sinking by the second in her chest. “So that’s it, then. He has chosen Equestria as the staging point for the subjugation, eradication, starvation, and slaughter of three-fourths of the entire human race.”
“Such is our fate, your Highness.” The white pony said, a smirk of arrogant annoyance spreading across her mouth. “It is what we were made for.”
“The letter does not say when,” Celestia said, placing a hoof on it at her side.
“No, your Highness.” It was the red pony’s turn to speak. Her voice was a harsh loud, and deliberate bark, that caused a jolt of subtle dread to slither up her spine. Celestia almost had a hard time believing that such a gruff and masculine voice could emanate from the mouth of such a lovely looking pony. “That order will be given shortly. For now, we are to remain here on standby until the first seal of the seven sacred scrolls are broken.”
Shaking her head, Celestia allowed her doubts to surface. “No, this is wrong. He cannot expect me to give safe harbor to the four destroyers of worlds. I do not wish my hooves tarnished by his self-righteous purging of his own creation! Dear heavens, I thought the whole idea was to save them, not crush them into submission!”
“How long has it been, your Highness?” The black pony said, her eyes seemed sunken and hazy as she spoke.
“I beg your pardon?”
“How long since you’ve last visited the human race?”
Celestia had to ponder her response. Surely it hadn't been that long ago, but as she traced her thoughts backwards over the centuries, she couldn't help but let in a small audible gasp. "It's been more than a thousand years." 
"With certainty, those were dark times for the human race;" The pale green pony stated, her huge eyes unblinking, "and for a time, they learned and overcame, and adapted. Now, like the times of the ancient boatman, the human world is too filled with luxury, instant gratification; hidden behind self-delusions, they need no gods, no demons, no fear of retribution, or of judgement. Theirs is a world of lust, and rot, hidden behind the now and the want."
"But we're talking about living beings," Celestia said, looking down. She knew that this was an argument she was never going to win. These four were vastly older, and vastly superior to her. 
"Correction, your Highness. We are talking about laws," The white pony was grinning as she spoke, "and when they are continually broken, and those that break them, no longer seek atonement through salvation, but instead choose a path of wonton gain; judgement must come. All who transgress the law, will be brought to their knees before it."
Celestia realized that there was another difference between herself and the four ponies before her. While she may be the ruler of her world, these four were the executors of judgement, heralds of annihilation, harbingers of the Almighty's wrath. In time, these very same four could come to exact judgement on Equestria; even herself. 
Unwilling to give up the fight, Celestia considered her options. She certainly didn't want the four of them staying in the palace, but she needed to keep an eye on them, regardless they were placed in her charge until their summoning. But she was not about to let them arbitrarily carry out their random acts of retribution on a world—any world—if she could help it. Not without better understanding why, or at the least getting them to understand the ultimate act of compassion, and mercy.
"Since it seems as if the decision has been made, then of course, you shall stay here in Equestria." Celestia stared blankly out at them as she spoke. But then, a slow smile appeared on her face. "And I have the perfect place for you four to spend your time."


~   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   ~



Chapter One: Bad Omens


"Thank you all for coming." Twilight Sparkle stood in the tree library holding up a glass of punch, while her friends gathered around, each with their own glass, and each smiling, as they waited on Twilight to finish her speech. 
"I know the past few weeks have been difficult for you all, worrying over me, and missing me at your parties, and dinners, and events, and I promise to make that up to you each. But right now, I just want to say that as important as finishing my thesis has been, I am so glad that it's over!"
There were some mild cheers from Applejack and Rainbow Dash, as they applauded, and joined in toasting their friend's success, and completion of her work. 
"So does this mean, you're ready to graduate from the magic school?" Rarity asked her, as she delicately sipped from the glass. 
"As a matter of fact, it does," Twilight said. "It also means that I can finally take a break and just spend the next few days resting. I never thought I'd hear myself say it, but I'm tired of staring into books all day, and I'd like to give it a rest."
"Sounds like a good Idea there, Twilight," Applejack said, pouring herself another serving of punch. "You should give them books a rest every once in a while."
A knock on the door of the tree library caught Twilight's attention, and she made her way over to it.
"Yup, it's going to be nothing but rest and relaxation for me. I mean it's not as if the world's going to end because I didn't study for a few days." Opening the door, Twilight saw four ponies gathered close together looking intently at her.
Screaming at the top of her lungs, Twilight slammed the door shut, and placed her back against it. 
"Good heaven's Twilight, what on earth is the matter with you?" Rarity said trotting over to pry her away from the door. "That's no way to treat guests to your party."
Shoving Twilight aside, Rarity opened the door, and saw the four gathered ponies, and keeled backward fainting without a sound.
Trembling, Twilight peered out the door at the four strange and frightening looking ponies, and put on her best smile, while the others at the party gathered around her to see what the commotion was. 
Holding out a hoof, the white pony with sharp eyes and attractive features handed Twilight a letter. "Are you, Twilight Sparkle?"
"Ye... yes."
"This is from your princess." 
"Let us in, or we will level this city, and leave the mangled corpses of its inhabitants as a feast for the birds!" the red one shouted, causing Twilight to reel back a step. 
"Shhhh, we are supposed to be civil while we're here, War." The voice was from the black pony, frail and trembling. 
"I'm just saying, that it's an option."
With trembling hooves, Twilight opened the letter from the princess and began to read. 
"What's it say Twilight?" asked Rainbow Dash placing herself between the open doorway, and her friends. 
Letting out a small chuckle of disbelief, Twilight said, "It says the world is about to come to an end."
"Perhaps it would help if we introduced ourselves," said the white pony. "My name is Conquest, the loud mouth with the fiery mane is War, this sack of skin and bones here is Famine, and of course, the even sicker looking pony in the back is Death."
At the sound of her name, Death waived at Twilight. "Hi Twilight, I like your name; it makes me think of dying in my sleep."
Taking in the four ponies, Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but instead, joined Rarity on the floor of the library as she fainted. 
The four ponies watched her for a moment, till War put her hooves on her flanks. "Pain in the ass!"


«   •   »


Twilight was awakened by a sharp pain, and bolted upright on her sofa, to be met almost face to face with the four ponies from earlier. She instantly shrieked and made as if she wanted to get away, but the red one, War, held her down by her shoulders. 
"Now listen you spooked rabbit, we're not going to harm you, we just need a place to stay while we're, uh, visiting Equestria." Turning to the others for confirmation, War motioned her head. "Isn't that right?"
Instantly the other three began talking excitedly, and affirming their intentions were of the utmost propriety. All except for Death, who was heard ending the light ruckus with the phrase, "haven't had a good slaughter in more than a hundred years."
"What did she just say?" Twilight asked.
"Nothing," said War. "The point is, we've been invited to come here to Ponyville by your Princess, and she informed us that you would have the means of securing some lodging for us."
Looking around the inside of the library, Twilight saw Rarity still passed out on the floor where she had collapsed, then she recalled the letter from the Princess, and weighed the contents. It had stated rather clearly, that the four ponies were legendary bringers of destruction, and that they were to be spending their time in Equestria before moving on; but that the Princess wanted Twilight and her friends to show the power of love, friendship, and magic. It was certainly a tall order, and while Twilight was happy the Princess placed such faith in her, she wasn't sure the Princess had the right pony for the job, this time.
Standing close by where the four destroyer ponies stood, Twilight could see the faces of her friends, and noticed Applejack shaking her head. Rainbow Dash was too distracted by staring down the red pony to notice much else, and Pinkie Pie was twisting herself near in half to examine the skinny pony, that had been referred to as Famine. 
Twilight wanted to swoon again, but instead just allowed herself to recline back and groan softly. 
"Can I have a few minutes to discuss with my friends?" Twilight asked War, as she smiled a fake and frightened grin.
"But of course, take all the time you require to find us rooms."
Slithering from the sofa, and inching away from the four, Twilight quick stepped to her friends, and motioned for the kitchen, where they could talk without being overheard. Though, on a scale of one to a thousand, of things she was most worried about, being eavesdropped on was somewhere in the five hundreds. 
Once inside the kitchen, Twilight peeked through the door, to make sure that her guests weren't suspicious, and turned back to her friends with the biggest pleading expression she could muster.
"What in the name of all that's right and normal is going on around here?" Applejack couldn't help but sound annoyed, and given the reactions of the ponies, the terrifying appearance and personalities of the four, and the fact that Rarity was still unconscious made Applejack frown sternly and put on her best motherly tone.
"Are y'all gonna tell us what's with those four odd ponies, or are we gonna have to beat the truth out of some-pony?"
"The truth is all in this letter," Twilight said, holding it out for her friends to examine. "I'll read it to you, and then maybe you can help me with this, problem."
Clearing her throat, Twilight began, "My faithful student, the four ponies that are no-doubt presenting you with this letter are here on official business from the supreme ruler of the cosmos. It is his wish that they remain in Equestria until their services are needed, and they are to begin the task of bringing judgement on the world of human-kind. I know that this is a lot to take in, in such a short time, I want you and your friends to perhaps show a good and kindly example of the power of friendship and compassion to these four, in the hopes that mercy may be revealed within them.
"These four are very old, and very powerful. Their sole purpose is to destroy worlds, and ravage civilizations, their foretelling has been in both prophecy, and song, and visions, from world to world, since the dawn of time. It is not my intention to change their minds, as like myself, they are tools, and servants of a high power; but it's my hope that with the smallest amount of goodwill and charity, these four will take with them something far more important: conscience. 
"I believe that to necessitate change in what we do, we must first learn what it is about ourselves that makes us do those things. Please pass on my wishes to your friends, and please be at peace. These four, while frightening, and horrible, are very wise, and very just; even if they are rather singularly driven. Regards, Princess Celestia; ruler of Equestria."
The five of them were silent for a moment, and didn't quite seem to know what to say. Mostly just staring at one another, and blinking. 
Rainbow Dash however did at least think about checking on the four ponies in the other room, and walked to the door and peeked through from the kitchen. 
"Whatever you are going to do with them; you might want to hurry it up and decide."
"Why?" Twilight asked.
"Because I think that sick green pony, is about to make Spike dead."
"Do you see the little light?" Death asked, standing over Spike, who was rubbing at the sides of his head. 
"I don't see a light," he said, as Death touched her hoof on his forehead again, and he keeled over, making a "whuh" sound. 
Tapping him on the shoulder, Death brought him back from the afterlife. "Did you see a white light now?"
"I still didn't see a light." Noticing Twilight and the others emerge from the kitchen, Spike waived her over. "Hey Twi, Death here is showing me the light at the end of the tunnel. But I still haven't seen it."
"Um, that's great," Twilight said, sliding Spike back towards herself, and away from Death, who looked rather disappointed that she couldn't continue. "After thinking it over, I think I have a great idea for where you four can stay."
Looking around the main area of the library, Twilight realized that she was only looking at three of the four ponies. The white pegasus, Conquest, was laying on the sofa, and War was browsing the bookshelf at the section for famous battles, while Death was slowly inching closer to Spike to continue her game. 
"Where's, Famine?" Twilight asked, looking around the library. 
"She's probably dying behind the sofa. I saw her collapse earlier when you were out." Conquest pointed a hoof behind the sofa where she lay, without bothering to show any concern for her companion. 
"Oh my goodness!" Twilight ran around the sofa and spotted the black mare on her side, with her eyes open, her mouth open, and her pink dry tongue hanging out. Clearly she had already died, no doubt from malnutrition, though with the green pony's obsession for killing things, Twilight had to entertain the thought that perhaps she had sent her friend ahead of Spike, to find the white light at the end of the tunnel.
"Get up, you aren't fooling anyone!" roared War from her place at the bookshelf. 
At once, Famine refocused her eyes, and turned them to Twilight, causing her to shriek, and backpedal. 
"You aren't dead?" Twilight gasped.
"Just a little hungry."
"Well, no damn wonder, girl, you look like you ain't eat nothin' since the last new moon!" Applejack had come around the sofa and caught a look at the famished Famine. "Why don't y'all get on up from there and get some grub?"
Shaking her ashen colored mane, Famine said, "I'm afraid it wouldn't last on me."
"You were saying something about the arrangement," Conquest said, as she examined her front hooves. 
"Right," said Twilight as she looked sidelong at War, who was still engrossed in the books, "I think it would be best if you each board up with one of us, for the duration of your stay."
Pulling her back a ways, Rainbow Dash turned Twilight away from the conversation and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, these ponies seem a little creepy to me, and I'm not sure this is the best way to, you know, carry out Princess Celestia's plan for showing them the power of friending."
"Maybe Rainbow Dash is right," Fluttershy said, as she glanced over her shoulder with concern. "They don't seem very easy to get along with. And did I mention that they are scary?"
"Look girls, I know this is a big deal, and I know these four are all powerful world destroying ponies, but if Princess Celestia thinks we can do this, then we owe it to her to try. Now, since there's six of us, and four of them, then two of us can skip doom-duty; but I think we should pair them up with those elements that they need most, or at least the ponies whose personality can tolerate the one they're rooming with."
"So which of us gets to get which of them?" asked Applejack from behind Twilight. 
"Well, since Fluttershy is afraid of them, I won't ask her to take one of them, and I really don't think leaving Pinkie alone with one of them is safe for either, so that leaves Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and myself."
"In case you haven't noticed, Rarity is still passed out," Rainbow Dash said, pointing back at the crumpled white unicorn, "and I doubt she'd willingly go along."
"Rarity is faking," said Applejack, as she walked over to her friend on the floor. "Rarity! There's a sale on silk and ribbons at the shop down the way; buy two get half off the third!"
"Really?" she said, leaping up into an upright sitting position, and looking around sheepishly, when she realized her gig was up.
"Oh, fine!" she said, turning her head away from Applejack's frown. "I was faking. So sue me."
"Alright then," Twilight said, "we'll pair you four up with four of us. Sorry Fluttershy, and Pinkie; there just isn't enough of them to go around."
Fluttershy looked relieved, and Pinkie Pie looked disappointed. Though her disappointment was short lived as Death touched her on the forehead, and she fell to the floor lifeless.
"Would you stop doing that!" Twilight yelled. "You're going to give a pony brain damage!"
Without any emotion, Death touched Pinkie on the forehead again, and she bounded up as if nothing had happened. 
"I saw the light! I saw the light!" Pinkie shouted, as she bounced.
"Aww shoot," said Spike. "I was wanting to see the light, too."
"Can we focus?" Twilight asked, dragging Spike back towards her with her hoof, before Death decided to try another time to kill him. 
"Well then, out with it already," said Conquest, reclining back uncaring. 
"Right. Famine, you'll go with Applejack to Sweet Apple Acres; Conquest, you'll go with Rarity, since you seem as fashionable; Death, you'll go with Rainbow Dash, since you're a flyer. That just leaves War. You'll stay here in the library, since you seem to take an interest in books, and are a unicorn type pony."
"I beg your pardon, but I am not a unicorn; these are horns, not horn. I am a descended hybrid of Baphomet and Adramalech, the consumer of knowledge and the commander of hell." 
Twilight stared at War blankly for a second, then put on her forced smile. "Perfect, and I'll bet I have plenty of knowledge for you to consume."
"Well, this is sure going to be interesting." said Applejack, as she gently pushed on Famine to go with her. "Come on slim, we gotta go work on gettin' some meat on them bones."