//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Fear the Darkness // Story: Event Horizon // by FandomPlays1234 //------------------------------// It's been hours since the abduction of the Elements and the princesses and the crystal empire have been on high alert since the mysterious virus started to spread in Ponyville and Canterlot. Since the princesses has been abducted by an unseen force, both Shining Armor and Flurry Heart has taken the liberty to watch over the castle while Cadence was gone. Guards ran up and down the halls of the Crystal Empire busy at work. One guard ran to the throne room panicked, clutching a letter in his mouth. He slid to a stop in front of the throne room doors gasping for air. "A letter for captain Shining Armor and her majesty," said the guard. The two guards opened the door and let him in. "So are guests are on their way here?" asked Shining Armor. "Yes sir, they said it was urgent," answered a guard. "I suppose they could be talking about the strange phenomenon going on," said Flurry. "It's a possibility," said the guard. "SIR!" Shining and Flurry turned their attention towards the second guard running in clutching the letter. "What is it?" asked Shining. "We've got a notice from the enemy!" the guard exclaimed. Shining Armor and Flurry looked at each other with worried looks and nodded. "Read, we're listening," said Flurry. "Right away your majesty," said the guard unrolling the letter. "Ahem, citizens of Equestria, it is I, Eclipse The Menace Controller, I'm delivering this message regarding the captives," read the guard. "MOTHER!" said Flurry. "I would like to make clear that, I do not plan on harming your loved ones, however if you wish to see them once more, you'll have to schedule your own time to come and get them yourselves," read the guard. "Anything else?" asked Shining. "Of course I do not plan to make things simple for you, thus I would like to make a deceleration to do battle for their souls, I expect you to have your strongest men to challenge the Menace, if you try any tricks or play any funny jokes, their souls will go into the claws of our king, do not disappoint me, prepare yourselves for May 16, I say this will be interesting, signed Eclipse The Menace Controller," read the guard. "You mean to say that they're forcing us to go to war!?" asked Flurry. "If it's war then I'm afraid I can't allow that," said Shining Armor. "But sir, your wife...." said the guard. "I know my wife is in danger, but this is too risky, we've already lost hundreds of lives, we don't need to lose another hundred," said Shining Armor. "But mother...." Flurry complained. "I said No!" Shining growled. "I suggest you listen to your father," a voice spoke up. The three turned to see Elliot, Tempest, Crescent, and Marisa walk in escorted by two guards. The four got to their knees and bowed. "Your Majesty," said Elliot. "Who are you?" asked Flurry. "We're the 'guests' that requested an appointment," answered Tempest. "I suppose this is about Equestria's current state?" asked Shining. "This is also about the war you'll be planning for," answered Elliot. "What do you mean?" asked Flurry. "Your majesty do you know of the enemy and their powers?" asked Crescent. Both Shining and Flurry shook their heads. "Your Majesty the enemy you face are called Menace, which are supernatural entities that are born after a soul is banished to Event Horizon after death for eternal damnation," answered Crescent. "Event Horizon?" asked Shining. "Event Horizon is the name of the void that prevents The Menace from escaping, it's basically their point of no return," answered Tempest. "Pretty terrifying place don't you think?' asked Marisa smirking. Elliot shot her a glare obviously not amused. "What come on take a joke will ya?' asked Marisa nudging him with her elbow. Elliot sighed and said,"As I was saying, I suggest you forget about going to war," "But my mother....." said Flurry close to tears. "Listen I understand you're worried about your mother, but going to war is only going to make the situation much worse," replied Elliot. "What do you mean?" asked Crescent. "You can't actually kill a Menace," added Elliot. "What are you talking about, you've been killing those monsters this entire time," said Marisa. "It may seem like that but in reality when you kill a possessed pony, your only confiscating the Menace's ability to inflict harm, thus they will escape the victim's body and will attempt to return to Event Horizon as soon as possible, since Visions like me have the power to seal the Menace in Event Horizon for all eternity," said Elliot. "Does that explain why they're are so many Menace still out there?" asked Guard. "Yes, if a Menace is sealed within Event Horizon, they are unable to travel between worlds, in which the Menace doesn't want that, they want to cause harm and problems for the living, so they must immediately return to Event Horizon before a Vision can perform a sealing spell on them," answered Elliot. "Ok I get that Visions can seal The Menace, by why against the war, aside from all the destruction and death," asked Marisa. "Going to war with the Menace is only making them more powerful," answered Elliot. "What do you mean?" asked Tempest. "You see in every world there is an invisible seal that prevents Event Horizon from entering the world of the living, going to war with the Menace means destruction, the more destruction that is caused, the weaker the seal gets," answered Elliot. "And if the seal is weakened too much?" asked Shining. "Then the darkness from Event Horizon will leak into the world of the living making it easier for the Menace to enter meaning they'll be able to terrorize the living without having to possess as much, still they can do plenty of terrifying things in their full bodies," answered Elliot. "Like what?" asked Tempest. "Imagine a Poltergeist fused with a demon," answered Elliot. The six took the time to picture what that would look like. After several seconds they all looked at each other and looked at Elliot with a nervous look on their face. "Seems like you got the picture," said Elliot. "Please don't tell me...." stuttered Flurry. "Yes they can get violent enough to even go as far as to killing the living themselves," said Elliot. The 5 even Marisa began to tremble in fear. It was obvious that these supernatural entities were not any ordinary ghosts. "B...But. recently more and more ponies are getting possessed, what does that mean?" stuttered the guard. "The seal is getting weaker," answered Elliot. "What do we do, if we keep weakening the seal those monsters will break into Equestria!" screamed Flurry. "We have to find the seal and replace it, fast," answered Elliot. "But wait does the seal weaken by nature or does someone have to weaken it," asked Shining. "Sometimes it does wear out after a long period of time, but I have a feeling that somebody is responsible for weakening the seal," answered Elliot. "But who?" asked Tempest. "We should worry about that later, right we need to find the seal and replace it before it's too late," answered Elliot. "But what about the others in Event Horizon?" asked Crescent. "Don't worry, Event Horizon is only meant for the dead, the seal will have no effect on the living," answered Elliot. "Thank Celestia," sighed Flurry. "But even still we must hurry," said Elliot. "Even if they are stuck in Event Horizon, Menace can easily kill them and claim their soul, even if they committed little crimes in the past, any sins that haven't been erased from their souls will prevent them from leaving Event Horizon," "What do we do?" asked Tempest. "Heh easy, all we have to do is find the seal and replace it," said Marisa confidently. "Don't count on it Marisa, even if you ARE a witch and or magician, Menace surely won't make things easier for us," said Elliot. "First things first do you know where the seal is located?" asked Shining. "You have a library?" asked Elliot. "Follow me, it's not that deep in the castle," said Flurry jumping off her mother's throne. The group ran out with Flurry and hurriedly made their way towards the crystal empire library. Meanwhile somewhere Eclipse continues to watch the group. "Heh those fools they think they can get to that seal easily," snickered Eclipse. He turned around to face Dry Bowser. "Those fools are trying to get to that seal, stop them, we mustn't let them replace it," he ordered. "As you wish master," said Dry Bowser before he disappeared into the darkness. "Heh soon those fools will know, they will know To Fear the Darkness....."