The Harbingers of the Apocalypse (In Preambulis De Apocalipsi)

by Matthebrony

Primum Gressus

All four harbingers glided over to the platform, they landed softly and silently stared at their handiwork. They were all were covered in blood and gore, save Famine, whose curse prevented him from getting soiled from the attack. After a few moments of silence, they all walked to the center and closed their eyes, pushing into the magical seal embedded in the platform below them. In their minds, it was a large, rotary lock, that spun this way and that as they prodded it to try to find the right combination. They scanned the seal and noticed the spell that had to be used.

“Ah! A more recent incarnation of the teleportation spell.” Said Famine, withdrawing his magical search and looking around at his brothers.

“Recent to us, but it must be ancient for this age.” Said War, withdrawing his spell also.

“It must be a precaution, so the only one that can crack it will be Celestia.” Pestilence felt Death’s presence still there as he magically backed out of the seal. “Do you think you can solve it Death?” He asked, Death smiled, his sockets tightening slightly.

“Of course I can, just give me a moment...” He felt around for a while and found the core of the seal, prodding it and applying a few spells to weaken it. “All right, prepare yourselves, this is going to be quite a trip...” He mentally unlatched the seal and cast the spell.

The angels felt reality temporarily melt around them, swirling and spinning through time and space. The process took so much longer then even a complex, long-distance teleportation spell that they started to worry it wasn’t going to work. After a few seconds of pregnant silence, they all found themselves on a large, flat-topped boulder on the surface. Stunned by the sudden brightness of the sun they had missed for so long, they flinched. They all stepped off the boulder and onto the clear, clean grass, not rushing to open their eyes as they felt the wind on their faces.

Famine was grinning so widely he thought his face would split, he had forgotten the subtle joys he could still cherish, even though he could never again touch water, he could still feel the golden, warm liquid sun pouring on his face.

Pestilence actually smiled, a funny, content grin, his rotten visage wasn’t pleasant, but it was easy to look past it when he grinned. He curled his toes on the rough ground and smooth grass, enjoying the feeling of the loose soil shifting around his feet.

War felt calm, the gentle, warm breeze that blew through the field calmed him more then anything else ever had. His angry, pained grimace was replace by a reflective, neutral mask. The pain had left, it no longer existed for just a moment, War reveled in this and took a deep breath in and held it, enjoying the swirling fresh air bouncing through his lungs. Peace was not an emotion he experienced often, but now he could think of no better term.

Death felt the same emptiness, without touch, smell or color, he couldn’t enjoy any of the freedoms the others could, but he remembered them. He stared out on the vast expanse around him, he forgot how much it felt like the surface felt like it went on forever. He recognized everything, it came back to him and even though this was no different to him from the hell below, it was still changed in an inexplicable way.

This went on until all the brothers felt they could stay this way forever, they opened their eyes and stared at the rolling green hills. They all looked down at their feet to see the familiar ground...and the spell broke.

Pestilence’s ground was covered in sickness, the grass looked unwell and was a wrong shads of green. Large, fat maggots swarmed around, slowly lurched over his feet and started ascending his leg. Swarms of flies now buzzed around his head, clotting out the other sounds. He trembled in annoyance as he remembered his disgusting disease he could only spread.

Famine’s patch of ground was brown, he had rendered the soil completely infertile, the plants all seemed to starve in fast motion, they turned light brown and curled up. The insects around him grew thinner and thinner and eventually crumpled up. Famine stared around and remembered the gnawing hunger that could only grow.

War’s presence charred and burned the dirt, the plants all caught ember and shriveled, burning down to nothing. War felt the pain coming back, he had a rising sensation in his throat and coughed, sending out a large splatter of blood that tainted the ground around him. He reminded himself he was a warrior, and warriors didn’t sit and stare at the sun all day. He remembered the growing rage in him that could only continue to burn

Death saw himself mirrored in the earth, the ground turned rotting and black, the grass turned a similar shade and withered, everything completely dead, just as was planned for him. Death knew the hollow emptiness well, and when it returned he sobered and stared down at his own little patch of sorrow and lifelessness. A butterfly fluttered along the path, Death reached out and touched it, willing a familiar spell down the length of his bony arm. As soon as he made contact with the butterfly, the life drained out of it, it’s flutters slowed and it collapsed to the ground, dead. And Death was reminded of his emptiness that he could only continue to feel forever.

The four horsemen stared around at each other, solemnly reminded that they only had themselves and each other, and that was all they would ever have.

“Where to now?” Asked Pestilence, the others pondered this for a moment.

“All of Equestria lies out before us,” said Death, “do we need to wonder? Let us act!” His rousing false enthusiasm shook the others out of their stupor, they all turned to each other and said their goodbyes.
And with that, the harbingers of the apocalypse spread their wings and flew off to perform their sole purpose, to bring chaos eternal to Equestria.

Author's Note:

Mat's Author's Notes:
Hello reader, if you enjoyed the story, I recommend you read these Author's notes at the end of each chapter, just to tell you about any updates and how the story's going. I want to inform you that this story will be continuing, you've gotten a pretty good taste of what to expect in the future.
The Latin chapter titles for this part go as follows:
The Beginning of the End, The Four Horsemen (Part 1), The Four Horsemen (Part 2), The First Steps
I'll get all the thanks out of the way at the very final chapter, but there's someone I want to thank every chapter for his fantastical contributions.
My editor, Nicholas, who's internets name is Pybrony. He's read every part and told me what he thought of it and what I should change, he provides much inspiration and is pretty much the co-captain of the story.
The cover art is probably temporary, if enough of you ask, I'll commission a friend of mine to make some super-pretty official cover art.
You guys probably know the drill by now, but comment and thumbs up or down based on your opinion of the story. When commenting, please keep in mind that the story isn't over, this is just the first lick of what's to come. All the characters in the character bar and many more will appear later on in this story. And also, I might not have to say this with a community so great as you guys, but no trolling, there is a difference between constructive criticism and being a flank-hole.
Good comment questions:
Who do you think the first used horseman will be?
Who will fight him?
How do you like the story so far?
Who's your favorite horseman?
What BG or mane ponies do you want to see fighting the harbingers?
I'll respond to most of your questions and lengthy comments and offer a thanks to anyone who gives encouragement or feedback.
Thanks for taking the time to read and I do hope you continue.
~Mat

Comments

[kjaslwod]

BoI.
fuck yeah.

[Red Tear (Subtle R)]

I....fucking....love....when authors put latin in their titles. It's by far the most superior language, am I right?

[Subbro]

Im gonna read this but only because you put a picture of Binding of Isaac in it :D God damnit how I hate Death....

[Matthebrony]

787136 Welp, I thought it would be fitting, it IS definitely a cool language (shame I can't speak it).

[Matthebrony]

787190 I got the inspiration from TBOI mostly, but I want you to read it if you think it sounds interesting, not because of the cover...

[Red Tear (Subtle R)]

787276 It's a great language, and everything looks SO GODDAM BADASS IN LATIN! Dominus Fatali, Morus Regis. Examples of such badassery.

[Matthebrony]

786461 (Uuuh, hey, what's wall text?) #I'm going to feel like such an idiot

[Red Tear (Subtle R)]

787291 HUGE PARAGRAPHS! That's what wall text is

[Red Tear (Subtle R)]

787291 all he's saying is that you need to break down your paragraphs, 786461 am I right?

[Subbro]

Well up till now this Story is really good. I am looking forward reading more of this!

Just one questions: Are they equally strong in this fic?

Who do you think the first used horseman will be? I think it will be Famine... Why? I don't know just a feeling :)
Who will fight him? It's gonna take more then one Pony to take one of them down.... But I think it should be someone that has something to do with it like Applejack (She grows food)
How do you like the story so far? Like I said at the moments it's a good read! Just hope it does not get tooooo gory....
Who's your favorite horseman? Death you realy described him well in this fic.
What BG or mane ponies do you want to see fighting the harbingers? If they attack Equestria you have a Chance of bringing in so many Characters! Old Enemys could Unite like Celestia and Chrysalis or Trixie and Twilight.

Again looking forward reading more of this Story!

[Matthebrony]

787337 Whew, thanks, I got alot of crap about that from Nick...I'll fix it now. (I know stuff like that can be very hard to read)

[Red Tear (Subtle R)]

787489 I don't have a problem with it, though other people might

[Matthebrony]

787368 Thanks a lot for answering the questions! Glad you enjoy it so far! :D
As to address some of the comments, the Cerberus part IS over-the-top gore, but it was intended as a starter. There will be little-to-no excessive gore from here on out. As for characters, I already have the whole fic pretty much worked out, there will be a new group of heroes every chapter.
I'm putting a crapton of TBOI references in this fic later on, see if you can spot them! (Glad someone will get them)

[Subbro]

787515 Yay 10 Internets for you! As for the Gore I have no problem with it as long as it makes sense and isn't just some mindless murdering but now I know that won't happen :)

[Matthebrony]

786726 Haha, mostly inspiration and character design my friend, hopefully you'll get the heavy references to the game I'll add later though!

[PyBrony 2.0]

Hey there, I'm the editor spoken of in the author's notes. I'm so glad to see people enjoying work I helped with!

[Matthebrony]

788407 It's true! The man with the metaphorical van is right here, if you guys want some outside feedback or just someone else to answer your questions, you can go ahead and ask him!