In a freak accident from the Cloudsdale weather control team, Twilight is struck down by an errant lightning bolt. But the veil of death is relatively thin...

This story is a sequel to Celestia's Darkest Secret

Twilight can see the living hell that awaits her in Tartarus and has to escape, but how can she do it without her magic?

* Written for RockstarRaccoon's Nightmare Night in April horror write-off contest - go check it out! *

There is some gore in Chapter 2, and an ‘E’ rated summary is provided as an author's note at the start of the chapter so that readers can skip over this part without missing out on the storyline.

With special thanks to a_m_sketchbook for the artwork, reproduced here with permission.

A 'micronarrative' is a personal story or revelation that happens at an individual level but can be expanded to the universal. A 'metanarrative' is a grand, encompassing idea that persists throughout time in media or culture—something like 'love conquers all' or 'man vs. machine'. A 'monomyth' is the ur-condensation of these ideas, the proposition of a pattern to the development of all narratives or events that can be traced back as far as the beginning of time: The Hero's Journey.

This story is about none of those things.

In a place before words or time, Two Sisters lived together. Many cultures have different versions of what happen next. This is simply our interpretation.

If you enjoy our writing, you can support us on Patreon, or commission us for horse-words (or anything, really).

It was the year 1015 and the Great War between the Changeling hegemony and the land formerly known as Equestria was finally drawn to a conclusion. While Queen Chrysalis and her fascist dictatorship suffered a devastating defeat, by the time the dust settled after 5 years of bloodshed, a new order rose from the ashes. One that was poised to shake the very foundation of the world.

The immortal Princess Celestia, in her desperation to save her little ponies from the onslaught of the changeling armies, turned to the most ancient source power of Ponykind: Hatred. And while, eons ago, the strife of the three tribes turned the northern part of the continent to a frozen wasteland, her rage turned the princess into the evil incarnation of the sun: Daybreaker. A twisted, cruel, egomaniac, committed to bend the entire continent to her will.

Her little sister Princess Luna tried to ignite a revolution against the tyrannical oppressor, but it was swiftly and mercilessly put down by the battle-hardened veterans of the imperial army. But those who hoped this, if nothing else, ended the bloodshed for the moment, were wrong. 

The self-proclaimed Goddess, caught blindsided by the betrayal of her beloved sister and five out of the six elements of harmony, was enraged and sworn to exact a revenge the likes of which the world had never seen before. After a few targeted assassinations, and a horrifying demonstration of the power of a new class of incendiary, “Napalm” bombs on Ponyville, and she turned her attention to the beloved children of her late sister: The Batponies.

Daybreaker quickly established a new government branch; the Bureau of Genetic Diversity. This hodgepodge of a pseudo-scientific think-tank, an independent and unappealable judiciary, and a secret polive was a thinly vailed attempt to justify, legalise and administrate the genocide of the entire Thestral race. 

And as so many times before in history, science bowed down to politics to create a justification for whatever horrors she wished to unleash upon a nation. In a mere 12 month at least 90 percent of the six million batponies were rounded up, tried and executed. Some of the rest fled the country, but most of them simply disappeared in the carnage as rounding errors. 

Our story happens somewhere in that 12 months, in an unnamed jail somewhere near Vanhoover. Just two ponies in a small room, an Earthpony and a Thestral, a lawyer and a defendant meeting for the first time.

This is my entry for the The Third Annual Equestria at War Writing Contest!

Hearth's Warming Eve is supposed to be a happy event—Cadance knows this, but all she ever feels is lonely. Now, with Shining Armor gone and a freak snowstorm battering her kingdom, it's up to Cadance to salvage the holiday and teach her crystal ponies to care for one another.

A story about finding your family, on the coldest night of the year.
— Featured on Equestria Daily