The night court was over. Thank the heavens.
I leaned back on the throne and uttered a loud sigh. I knew that trying to do a job I wasn't made for would only end badly. But hey, at least I got to kill some snobbish people in the process. Twenty-seven of them to be precise.
I looked over their ashes, a deep scowl on my face.
"Imbeciles," I growled, "asking such ridiculous things of me."
Luna sighed as she teleported the ash to... somewhere.
"I always deal with these kinds of ponies, but I always refrain from turning them to ash," she said, only growing my irritation even more.
"Why?" I snarled, "they present themselves as fools in front of you constantly, it was only a matter of time before they would pay for the consequences."
Luna shook her head, "You do not understand," she replied, "because of my position as Princess of Equestria, I cannot simply kill because I want to. There's an entire legal system for that."
I looked to Luna in slight surprise, "You mean that the rulers can no longer decide who lives and dies?"
"Yes, although we retain the power to arrest whomever we want."
"Huh. How interesting," I thought, "just what other things have changed since I was gone? After all, it's been, well, I actually don't know how long, but it's been a long time, that's for sure."
Before I could ask Luna more questions, a bright flash in front of us, temporarily blinding me.
Once I was able to see again, I saw Celestia, with what looked like some multi-layered frosted desert in her magic.
Before I could inquire what it was, she threw the thing in my face.
Oh, I can assure you, I was enraged by this act of disrespect. But before I could unleash my outburst, some of it entered my mouth.
It tasted... delicious. I won't deny it.
Soon enough, I was licking around my mouth to get more of it, using my fingers to get the areas my tongue couldn't reach.
I was clearly enjoying it. Kudos to Celestia for distracting me.
(Note: I learned many years later that she apparently slipped somehow, and the whole desert in my face thing was entirely an accident. I'm not sure whether I should believe that or not, however.)
Once I was finished, I returned my attention to Celestia, who I noticed was now accompanied by Luna. Both of them seemed to be in a heated argument.
"I wonder what they're talking about," I thought, though I really wasn't that interested in finding out. Luna was probably telling her sister she shouldn't have done that, anyway.
"While I do take offence to your actions, I will choose to ignore them due to how delightful your pastry tastes," I suddenly declared, wiping wherever it was on my clothing, "I do wish I could have more, but that will come later."
"So, you're interested in cake?" Celestia hopefully asked.
"So that's what it's called?" I asked. The closest thing that came to my mind was the word placenta, though I don't know why, "I wouldn't say I'm interested, it is food after all."
I don't know if that made sense.
"But, is that truly all you have to show me? I'm quite disappointed, and here I thought there was a significant change in the world since my imprisonment," I stated, a winning smirk forming on my face.
"That's all I had to show, but it's not all we have," Celestia replied, a smile forming on her own muzzle.
Just then, Twilight and the five other ponies she seems to be very attached to, entered. They wore some jewel necklaces (except for Twilight, who wore a crown).
I don't know why, but these jewels had an aura that I found... oddly familiar.
They had a... I don't know how to say it, but they just had this energy on them that made me clench the arms of the throne tightly, and made me clench my teeth (although that was less noticeable with my mouth shut). Thankfully, no one seemed to notice my discomfort.
All six of them stopped in the center of the throne room, everything going eerily silent.
I frowned again, "Well, if these are anything interesting, they better be more than just simple jewelry."
Celestia kept her smile though, "Oh, these are more than jewels," she stated, "but it's not in a way you would like."
Not in the way I like? The fuck does that even mean?
Suddenly, the jewels began to light, as if they were told to. Then, the bearers' eyes became completely white as a beam of rainbow formed above them.
It was only then I realized what was happening.
Thinking quickly, I teleported away as the disgusting rainbow beam made impact to the throne.
Reappearing beside the group of ponies, my anger increased tenfold.
"These ponies dare have the gall to try and put me back in stone!? Let's see how they like it when I turn them into ash!"
Once they were finished in their poorly planned attempt to reimplement my stone prison, they stared at the now empty thrown with unsure looks on their features.
"Uhh... did we get her?" The cyan one asked, clearly confused with my disappearance.
"No, you did not," I stated matter-of-factly, my voice becoming demonic as they snapped their attention towards me, "now, if you're done trying to be heroes, I think it's time for you to die."
I raised my staff.
The ponies' eyes widened.
My staff slammed into the floor, visibly cracking and shattering from the impact, and in no less than a second...
...Nothing happened.
The six of them were still there, standing.
"What?" I snarled in confusion. I did the same process, slamming my staff onto the floor.
...Still nothing.
"What is the meaning of this? Why are you not turning them to ash!?" I demanded, still futility tapping my staff onto the floor.
"Because they are the Elements of Harmony," Celestia retorted, stepping in front of the group of six, looking back at me with a fire I hadn't seen since her parents, "and because of that, your powers have no effect on them."
Impossible! Those gemstones cancel out my powers? How!?
I began to retreat back as they began to push forward, "No... I won't be taken advantage of by mere mortals like you!"
But here I was, my back against the wall, cowering in front of mortals that shouldn't be worth my time.
"This is the end for you, Zerstörung," Twilight declared.
"Think what you will, but this is far from over," I stated, using my power I had to teleport myself to an unknown location.
The throne room became silent after Zerstörung's escape, everyone left in it visually relaxing, most uttering sighs of relief.
Once that was over, Rainbow Dash groaned, "Come on! We almost had her!"
"Oh don't worry, Dashie, I'm sure we'll get that meanie in no time, and I'll throw a party when we do!" Pinkie Pie replied in her never-ending cheerful voice.
"That sure sound nice, Pinkie," Applejack interjected, "but ah think we should get focused on gettin' Shinin' Armor and Cadenza's wedding done an' over with."
"I agree with Applejack," Rarity acknowledged, "we should get this wedding finished, before it gets rudely interrupted again!"
"I-I like that idea," Fluttershy approved. It was no secret to anyone that all she wanted was for the day to end, and be back in her cottage with all her animal friends.
"Then go on, my little ponies," Celestia declared, "we can finally resume everything according to schedule."
With that, all of the element bearers filed out of the throne room.
...All except for Twilight.
"Princesses?" She asked hesitantly, turning to face them.
"What is on your mind, Twilight Sparkle?" Luna replied.
Twilight looked at the floor as if it was an interesting book, "Can you tell me about her? Zerstörung, I mean?"
The princesses looked at one another, unsure who should answer.
Celestia was the first to answer Twilight's question, "Although we've never dealt with a force with powers such as herself in our lifetimes, our parents have."
"And they had quite the story to tell," Luna interjected, "they themselves told us that Mother Faust herself told them how Zerstörung came into existence, and their experiences with her as well."
"But this story is quite long-" Celestia began, only to be interrupted Twilight.
"Tell me everything!" Twilight exclaimed, teleporting in a notebook and quill from thin air.
"Well... alright," Celestia slowly said, "then I believe we should start from the beginning, sister?" She looked to Luna, who nodded in confirmation.
"Alright, it all started when Mother Faust created the universe..."