Now that Princess Celestia has passed all hell breaks loose.
Tartarus: Place where all the evil in Equestria goes. Cerberus: Guardian of Tartarus. The seven sins have escaped and now they aim to destroy harmony. Celestia is healing in the sun leaving Luna in charge. The Blackmane Mysteries hold the key. And what or who are the Mavericks.
The elements of harmony lay in the crystal castle of Twilight Sparkle. They were shrouded in a miasma brought on by the attack of the denizens of Tartarus. Cerberus had been severely injured due to the small fact that he had no sun throne powers now that Celestia was no more. Surrounding the elements were three figures. One was as massive as Tirek though he had a disguise that made him look normal, one was a mismatched god of chaos, and the last was a midnight Alicorn. Discord stood near Fluttershy who's pink and yellow form twitched fretfully. Luna was struggling against the miasma around Rarity. The grey stallion with an eye patch and a scruffy look to him stood over Twilight Sparkle element of magic and newest princess of Equestria.
Inside Twilight's mind the mental form of the grey stallion stood holding back a shadowy form with rainbow hair. He managed to banish the nightmare only to turn and see Twilight staring at him.
She spoke "Why are you here Blackmane?"
Blackmane looked at her with his steely golden eyes "I am inside your head because you seem to be having nightmares."
"Are you taking over Luna's job now as well?"
"Hardly child. I am assisting her. She is currently struggling against your friends' Nightmares."
"I don't need your help!"
"Oh? So you running from Gothshy and Pinkie Terror was only an illusion."
"SILENCE! I don't want the help of a blackmane. Your wretched cult killed my mentor. You killed Celestia!"
The miasma surrounded Twilight Sparkle causing her to transform. She fired a beam of energy that sliced through Blackmane's mental form sending him into the waking world.
He turned to a steel gray mare "Put her in the warded room. Ward the door and lock it. I will deal with her later."
The mare nodded and pushed the rolling bed into a chamber filled with runes. She hurried out the door after warding it and pushed it closed locking it from outside. She hurried back to her teacher's side. Blackmane now stood over Pinkie Pie.
Luna spoke "Be careful Baron Blackmane. Pinkie's mind is not to be trifled with."
"Luna I have been through the lands of Wondermane. When you play chess with a Jabberwocky and talk to a smoking giant millipede. Then you can tell me what I can and cannot handle."
His mental form entered into the mind of Pinkie. He was quite surprised when he wound up in a filing room. Everything was in order. He saw a straight haired Pinkie Pie sitting forlornly. He walked over to her and saw what she was staring at. Outside the window her chaotic mind was storming the wire fence.
She looked balefully at him "Don't go out there this is the only safe haven I have left."
Discord appeared and asked "Why is your mind attacking you?"
"Not attacking. It's fleeing."
Blackmane looked out the window "Fleeing from what?"
Blackmane stepped outside into the storm. He saw Discord float next to him and turn some of the clouds into cotton candy. Blackmane then saw a shadowy form. This was the cause of the fear. The shadowy female turned to him and grinned maliciously.
Blackmane spoke "If it isn't the shadow of Belphegor."
The shadow mare smiled sweetly "Oh you've heard of me?"
Blackmane grimaced "You don't belong here."
"Oh? Do you plan on stopping me?"
"Go back to your master."
He waved his hoof and she vanished with a scream of fury. He appeared in Rainbow Dash's mind and saw her struggling to perform the Sonic Rainboom. Her fans were booing and jeering at her. He saw another shadow mare and recognized her as the shadow of Abadon. He smiled and adjusted her trajectory allowing her to perform her signature move. The shadow of Abadon vanished with a howl of rage.
Blackmane was once again in the waking world. He saw Luna get thrown into a wall as Rarity woke up. The gem finder grinned darkly and advanced on Blackmane. Blackmane spoke "Essence get back to the temple. Pinkie I need you to find Ditzy Doo. Help her locate the Mavericks."
His image disguise was washed away and a beam of fiery purple stabbed through his chest. His body vanished and Twilight Sparkle stood there smouldering. Her purple hair was pure fire. And her coat was venom white. She had somehow forged sharp iron armor that she wore along with a purple cape.
Discord spoke "Love the new look Princess. Very Medival of you. All you're missing is a chain flail."
"Silence Traitor! Twilight Sparkle is no more I am Aamon. You betrayed us now you will suffer."
Fluttershy stepped in front of Discord "You will have to go through me bitch!"
A fiery blue beam slammed into Fluttershy causing her to cry out and become a silvery crystal. The ground quaked and stone spears engulfed Discord re-petrifying him Applejack stood there wrapped in ebony chains. Dash backed up to protect the fallen Luna.
Rarity spoke very sultrily "Come Dahling join us. Even little spikey wiky has joined us."
A large purple drake shambled in he had gold armlets and numerous jewelry around his limbs. He let out a massive roar.
Dash stood there "I will not let you near Luna!"
Fire blurred her vision and when it returned she was being held by Luna. They were in the hidden Command Center inside the former castle of the Two Pony sisters. Now simply known as the castle of the moon. The statue of Discord stood there looking aghast, It was wrapped around the statue of Fluttershy. Dash stood there looking at all the unicorns. She also saw numerous Bat Pony Nightguard. She saw some spider ponies, diamond dogs, raccoons with daggers, possums brewing potions, and strange cat-pony wizards with mice bodyguards. A possum quickly clambered up Luna and sat on her back.
One of the cats opened a scroll and spoke "Queen Luna our scrying indicates that the seven kings lead the forces from Tartarus. Your pet hound, Cerberus, is resting and in good health."
Dash looked at Luna "who are the Seven Kings?"
"They are better known through myths as The kings of hell. They represent Greed, Avarice, Pride, Lust, Sloth, Envy, and Wrath. They have names however. The one that took over Twilight was Aamon the Wrathful. Applejack was possessed by Lucifer the prideful. Rarity was consumed by The Fly of Envy, Beelzebub. And Spike was taken by Mamon the greedy. The one that was trying to posses you was Abadon the sloth. Fluttershy was struggling against Asmodius the lust filled. The one that weakened Blackmane was Belphagor the Glutenous."
Cadance spoke "But Auntie how did they break free."
"When Celestia was placed in the Sun for healing her powers disappeared from this plane of existence. The only way that Cerberus was able to keep guard was with the powers of both the sun, moon, love, and harmony. When Celestia assassinated you and your friends she broke harmony. When she tortured Chrysalis and tried to commit genocide against the changelings the crystal heart broke. Cadance and Chrysalis were two sides of the same coin. Without the darker aspects of love the heart was overpowered by the pure aspects of love and shattered."
Rainbow collapsed in exhaustion "How did it it come to this?"
A mustard yellow mare walked in with a pith hat on. Her cutie mark was that of a compass. She spoke "I am afraid that The Blackmane forces unearthed a powerful artifact. I was exploring the tomb of Starswirl the bearded. I noticed that the anvil of the night was missing."
Luna looked down in shame "I am afraid I asked him to take it. When the wondermane forces attacked I became worried that the wyrm's agents would find certain artifacts of power and use them to resurrect the wyrm. So I asked him to collect them and keep them protected."
A steel gray mare appeared "I also have something to do with these attacks. My master want's me to show you the days leading up to this attack."
The day was almost over. The tower of Princess Twilight Sparkle glistened with the colors of twilight. A gray alicorn flew past delivering her mail. Twilight Sparkle waved at her friend Ditzy "Derpy" Doo, daughter of Princess Luna, element of Unity, and current town mail mare.
A young mare walked into the town of Ponyville. An old goat passed her he was red furred with some black. His golden eyes glistened in the setting sun. His black beard twitched as she walked past. He looked at her with his steely golden eyes.
There was nothing particularly interesting about this mare. Except for her cutie mark, a horned cross with upside down v surrounded by a circle. The one leg he saw from under her cloak was a steel green with two nasty black stitches. One stitch was above her knee and the other was at the hip.
She saw him eyeing her and quickly covered up. Her magical aura was a poisonous black. She walked quicker even though it was with a noticeable limp. The goat grimaced and continued his rounds. She slipped into an alleyway behind Carousel Boutique and curled up in her cloak as night descended.
Unfortunately the owner of the boutique, Rarity, had been out with her friend Applejack. She came home with Applejack who was helping her stay steady. "that's the last time I accept your drinking challenge dahling. I don't know how you and that rainbow maniac can handle it."
"Sugarcube, Ah have been challenging Rainbow since we met. We have a high constitution."
Rarity stuck her nose in the air and stumbled against the first step. She tripped and landed on top of the mystery pony. Her eyes widened and she let out a piercing shriek. And hid behind Applejack, who was in a fighting stance. The cloaked pony rose weakly and collapsed in front of them her draconic blue eyes looked up at the two before she whimpered and curled up in a fetal position. There was a flash as Twilight appeared.
"I heard the scream, what's wrong?"
She then looked at the pony on the ground and nudged her. The pony stirred only to whimper some more. Sweetie Bell opened the door and looked at the small gathering. She looked down at the pony and gulped.
She spoke "Hi Essence."
The weak pony stirred at her name and clutched her cloak tighter.
Rarity was the first to finally speak "Sweetie dear you know this thing?"
"Yep she sleeps back here and I feed her scraps of food. I was hoping to get my cutie mark in generosity."
Rarity grimaced at the dirty pony in front of her. Only to have Applejack hoist Essence onto her back and carry her into the boutique.
Rarity scurried after "please do not put her on the couch."
"Too late"
Rarity looked at the pony. She finally dragged Twilight in, who had been examining the ground outside where Essence had laid. She saw a red and black goat round the corner and come to a screeching halt.
"Ah Miss Rarity, I thought I heard a scream. Was that you? What is it this time some mud or did you see a bug?"
Rarity glared daggers at him "I'll have you know Axel Foal that I ran into a homeless pony hiding near my door."
Twilight looked at the goat and spoke "Inspector I have this under control. There is no need to start an investigation."
"I take it you do not trust me princess?"
"Just because you are Ditzy's uncle does not mean I have to trust you. Also you are a Blackmane. Your kind are problems."
"My Kind? Whatever, very well princess. When this falls apart please feel free to not call me."
As he left Twilight stuck her tongue out at him. She went inside the boutique and began examining Essence. They tried to remove her cloak but she kept pulling it closer to her. Sweetie Bell spoke "It's okay Essence you can trust them."
Essence allowed them to remove her cloak revealing a steel gray mare with a sunshine yellow, Teal, and royal blue mane. Her tail swished nervously. Her tail was an Amethyst and midnight blue. She had stitches above every joint. She cringed as Twilight's magic examined her.
Twilight pulled Applejack and Rarity aside as Sweetie Bell tried to get Essence to eat something.
Twilight spoke "I detect large traces of black magic. She seems harmless, though. I'll send a letter to Luna tomorrow. But for tonight do you think you can care for her Rarity?"
Rarity nodded as Applejack spoke "Ah'll be here in case she tries any funny business."
Twilight walked to her castle and opened a black book she had swiped from the fallen satchel of Celestia. She looked at the various runes and incantations. She began to try and decipher the markings.
Rarity snuggled against Applejack as they sat near her fire sipping coffee so as to be awake if Essence tried anything.
Pinkie Pie sat in the bakery talking to Rainbow Dash about her drinking problem. The bell rang over the door and three gray mares and a white mare with a pink diamond walked in. Pinkie looked up and gasped.
"Maud, Limestone, Marble. Oh My Gosh this is the best day ever! Who’s this?"
Maud walked over and nuzzled the mare “she’s my mare friend Diamond Mint.”
Pinkie’s jaw dropped then she squealed and shot in back. Three seconds later she came out with a bright yellow cupcake. She handed it to Diamond who took a bite and smiled. Rainbow Dash was examining Diamond Mint. She backed up nervously and Maud nuzzled her to calm her.
Rainbow spoke “I know you. You’re the wanted mare from mmph”
The next day Princess Ditzy stood alongside the other elements of Harmony. They were waiting for the representative of Luna's new day court. The chariot landed revealing a pale blue mare with a magic wand cutie mark. She wore a star studded cape and a purple magicians hat with stars that matched her cape.
Twilight gasped "Trixie?"
Trixie looked up and paled. "How did Sparkle become a princess? Argh even the derp got to be a princess!"
Ditzy looked quizzically at her and shrugged. Applejack spoke "Now Trixie you be nice to Luna's heir."
Trixie bowed and said "The Great and Powerful Trixie is here on behalf of the new day court by his baronship Lord Baron Blackmane. Now he said that there was something you wish to talk to Luna about?"
Rarity brought her into the livingroom where essence lay sleeping. Trixie looked over the mare and nodded her head.
"So you're worried about the dark magic. Well worry not this is Baron Blackmane's newest apprentice. He apparently found her in the lands of Wondermane while he was on a mission from Princess Luna."
Twilight suddenly snarled "Why does she trust him? Can't she see he's evil."
Trixie stepped back defensively as Applejack spoke "Calm down Twi. He's helped us out of several predicaments."
"So he wants us to think. Celestia's personal book of spells calls him evil."
Trixie spoke "what did you say about celestia's book?"
Twilight held open a black book with numerous arcane glyphs, runes and spells. "See right here is the symbol of the blackmane. It is an evil symbol." Trixie glared "Twilight where did you find that book?"
"In Celestia's personal library."
"Sparkle you do not know what you hold. I warn you, as a Descendant of Starswirl the Bearded, that book is dangerous. It is what caused Sombra the benevolent to become Sombra the Lich. It caused the fall of Princess Luna into Nightmare Moon. Even a mad god would dare not touch it."
"No books are good. They teach us. You can't have it."
Twilight fled the building. While Trixie pulled out a crystal. She clenched the crystal in her magic and an image of Baron Blackmane appeared.
Trixie spoke "I found Essence. Also I fear that Sparkle has gone mad. She holds the book of the Blackmanes. She found it in Celestia's personal library."
Blackmane grimaced "Okay keep an eye on things. If it gets too crazy hook up with General Allure Dusk. She's already recruiting eyes."
Rarity spoke "Now dear baron why would you need an eye in Ponyville?"
The image turned to Rarity "Because Ponyville is the closest to Tartarus. A rebellion happened in Tartarus last night. Cerberus was nearly slain I need you element bearers to keep an eye on anything suspicious. One of the escapees is Tirek the devourer of magic. Another was Grogar the Soul Devourer. Not to mention Sombra."
Applejack spoke "But we already destroyed Tirek. It was how Twilight got her castle."
"Yes you did. But Tartarus has no guard. Tirek will be back. Just stay alert. Locate Raindrops or Lyra if you need to get a hold of me. Trixie we need you back at headquarters. Since you are the closest direct descendant of Starswirl the Bearded we need your skills at illusion."
Trixie walked out and bumped into a green gem eyed mare with three drama masks as a cutie mark. She apologized and hurried off. The mare waited until she left and pulled out a mirror "You got all that Minty?"
A mint green mare appeared in the mirror "Yuppers. Sea swirl and Apple Fritter will meet you at the rendezvous."
As the mare left she bumped into a green mare with orange dreadlocks. The mare spoke "Woah, like your eyes are amazing. Your aura is so brilliant. You like feel warm and accepting. Like someone I've met before. Ah! Masquerade."
Today was a party for Princess Twilight’s birthday. Pinkie Pie had called in many favors including the help from both Discord and Cheese Sandwich. She even had her cousin Bumble Sweet helping her. Her three sisters were finishing breakfast with Diamond Rose. That was when an explosion shattered the windows. Marble Pie looked outside to see an orange and red haired unicorn with a sun on her flank running from a horde of demons.
The demons entered town square and as all the ponies ran for their lives two stood against the invaders. Cheese Sandwich stood in the center of Ponyville his eyes narrowed near him stood Pinkie Pie in a fighting stance. The town had been invaded by some lesser demons led by Grogar the soul devourer. The two of them smirked.
Cheese yelled “Invocation of the Polka Knights!” after this he became more muscular and had lederhosen on. “Summon Polka Dancers!” He pulled out an accordion and began playing as ghostly forms appeared and began dancing through the demons.
The demons howled in agony and Pinkie Jumped in the air shouting while spinning in a circle “unbelievable beam of Cupcakes!” She finished her spin “Warp of Confetti!”
A beam struck the demons turning them into cupcakes while confetti entangled Grogar. A fiery blast destroyed the cupcakes and burned all the confetti Tirek had returned.
Pinkie Pie backed away slightly then whispered “Concealment of balloons.” She and Cheese Got into Sugarcube Corner. Diamond Rose and her sisters were missing. She looked out the shattered windows and saw the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well standing next to Maud, Marble, Limestone,and Bumble Sweet. All were wearing a variation of the Mare-Do-Well costume.
Maud jumped and kicked Grogar into the balloons as they exploded, vaporizing the old goat. Tirek yelled and blew dark fire at Maud who jumped up the water tower away from the flames. Several sticks of dynamite found themselves wrapped around the legs of Tirek and Limestone smiled and pressed the comically large plunger causing the dynamite to blow up. Tirek collapsed and vanished back to Tartarus. Pinkie was cheering her sisters on. She had somehow conjured pom poms and was leaping in excitement.
Discord stood next to Derpy. She had visited Fluttershy’s home to see how she was adjusting to her duties. Fluttershy was sleeping near a large bear who had his massive forearm around her. There were several nurses running around and the entire area was covered in makeshift tents. Discord looked tired.
He spoke in barely a whisper “It’s been hard my dear Derpy. There are too many wounded. Too Many near death. Why is it so hard?” Derpy put a wing around his body as he dropped on all fours. Her ears perked up and a large explosion ripped through several tents. A black haired woman in a blood red robe cackled in glee.
“Well if it isn’t the traitor Discord!”
Discord looked over his shoulder “Hello Somnambula. I thought I felt your brand of evil.”
Derpy moved to protect Discord. However before she could she heard a crack. She saw Discord’s daughter Screwball standing there with the other elements of chaos. Goldengrape, the element of Pandemonium, charged at the witch first but was instantly drained of his youth. The others looked wary until a beam hit them Screwball and Screwloose were the only ones to get out of the way. Bon Bon fell to the ground her disguise vanishing revealing her to be a changeling. Roseluck struggled to stay on her aged hooves but collapsed. With her last strength she caught Somnambula in poisonous vines. Another explosion ripped through the tents and two ugly crones walked out of the smoke.
Their leader yelled “Let us go, show these pretty ponies what happens to those more beautiful than us!”
It got really cold really fast as a large man with ice blue skin and frigid eyes walked into the clearing. Derpy whinnied in despair. A large wall of toothpaste appeared in front of her and the small hut. Derpy peeked through the magical wall to see Colgate standing there with Time Turner and a blue box nearby. Colgate yelled out “Greater enchantment of floss. Wrap the crone. A green string wrapped around the three old women. Screwball grabbed one end and wrapped it around her and Screwloose.
She spoke while pulling out a ball “Screwloose go fetch!”
Screwloose chased after the ball and there was a sickening rip and three screams.
Colgate turned towards Somnambula “Cursed explosion of mouthwash.”
Somnambula screeched in agony as her body vanished. Time Turner jumped back as an icy wind froze the place where he had been standing. Colgate shivered but summoned a wall of toothpaste. She heard a southern voice “Well howdy. If’n it ain’t King Charlatan. Minty was right, Ah’ll be darned."
Colgate wiped away some of the toothpaste and saw Applejack’s cousin Apple Fritter standing there with a gem eyed pegasi with three masks for a cutie mark, her friend Seaswirl, and her cousin Rainbow Flash. She even saw a steel silver unicorn shakily try to stand.
The five squared off with King Charlatan as Screwloose and Screwball moved to the side of the steel silver mare.
She heard Screwball “It’s alright Essence take a load off we got this.”
Charlatan was engulfed in an inferno and when the smoke cleared he was gone. They had also vanished. She looked about and saw the devastation. There were now only one hundred tents out of the six hundred they had. Almost all of Canterlot had been killed by now. Luna would not be pleased. She dropped to the ground and wailed. Time Turner wrapped his foreleg around her and did his best to comfort her. With Somnambula gone those that had been drained of their youth were returned to normal.
Rainbow Dash and Princess Twilight Sparkle descended from the sky as Applejack, and Rarity came running up the sidewalk. Pinkie was already next to Derpy looking distressed.
Twilight Stormed over to Derpy “How could you not stop this? Do you know how many died because of your incompetence?” Discord snapped his fingers causing a muzzle to appear on Twilight locking her mouth shut.
He spoke very menacingly “About time you showed up princess. Do you even have a clue who she was up against? No? Well let me enlighten you. All the bad beings from tartarus have escaped. She was up against The witch Somnambula, Hydia and her daughter, and last but certainly not least King Charlatan. Surly someone who reads many books should know about them. One who can drain the youth of her victims, Two who can control the purple smooze, and the king who can freeze a pony solid with a blink of his eye. One alone is trouble all five at once is a death sentence even for an immortal. So do you think you can leave the poor traumatized alicorn alone for a bit. She was lucky my element bearers arrived when they did.”
He snapped his fingers again and the muzzle vanished. Twilight shot a death glare at him and walked off. The others followed except for Rainbow who noticed Fluttershy nosing one of the unresponsive nurses and collapsing into tears. She went over while Pinkie tried to console Derpy and sat next to Fluttershy. She wrapped her wing around her and let her cry into her body.
