Invasion

by ZombieBrony22

Fascinating

The sun rose upon the capital city of Equestria-- Canterlot. At the highest peak of the large castle, Princess Celestia wiped a drop of sweat from her brow after aiding her younger sister-- her age fixed following the unintentional de-aging, in setting the sun and allowing her to raise the moon for the first time in a thousand years. After a work well done, the former turned to the younger mare and smiled at her, an act that was instantly returned.

“This truly never does get old, does it?” Luna asked her older sister.

Celestia chuckled at that remark, knowing full well that it did.

“Give it time, sister... give it time.”

The two shared a giggle and silenced kicked in as the elder sister gazed upon the younger.

"It's... I'm so glad you're back, Luna... I missed you." Celestia said, her voice starting to falter as the two princesses headed back into the large castle, just missing the shooting star that seemed too close for comfort to the Badlands...

Everyone comes into the world clueless—unable to comprehend everything around them, all of the strange colors, sounds, and sights all hitting you at once... The being hidden away on the large chunk of space rock was no different. Once the chunk of rock shattered on impact, the single, small pile of goo first seeped all over the forest-infested ground, as to be expected.

But after a moment... it began to move.

The movements were rapid and jerky at first, but as the pile of sentient goo began to move around the terrain, it began to adapt and change as the being was soon able to move around with relative ease. After a few minutes of roaming throughout unclaimed territory, it eventually roamed onto a large cave, and decided to enter, sensing other life inside...

Sure enough, there were a small group of pony miners who were packing up for the night.

“...See you in the mornin’, Steel!” A male voice called out.

“You, too, dude!” Steel Spark called out as he trotted towards the exit where the slime entered through.

The slime knew its purpose—to lunge at this or any other organism before it and make it it’s host—it's means of survival... even if it was by force. As soon as the pony was close to the slime, it reacted.

The slime went for the belly first, which was unsupervised by Steel Spark, who was still trotting on casually. The sensation of the substance meeting his fur caught him off-guard, causing him to jump back—onto the substance...

The slime climbed its way up his body, covering his cutie mark and reaching his neck before a large tendril formed from his hand, meeting his face.

The only thing Steel Spark could do was scream as the tendril lunged at his face, bonding with its first host.

Steel Spark’s mind went blank and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as the parasite spread throughout his body, covering him and causing him to jerk his limbs violently, breaking them and twisting them as Steel Spark continued to fight for freedom—he of course lost that battle as the parasite finally wrapped itself around his face, turning him into a hideous, slime-covered monster with uncountable sets of teeth accompanied with an unholy strand of drool running down the new, long pink tongue and empty, all-white eyes. Then, after the parasite had taken over, a new sensation set upon the parasite—one that it understood instantly.

Infect... eat... multiply.

The being understood its purpose and leaped into the night sky. As all of this was happening, more meteors were crashing throughout the Badlands, all of them containing these horrifying creatures...

Near the border of the Badlands, a younger stallion by the name of Blank Page trotted along a paved road leading into the Badlands, using his magic to hold up a blank sheet of map paper. The vast, barren landscape was engaging the idealistic stallion, captivating him as he drew his sights onto the map, beginning his goal of mapping the entirety of the Badlands.

“No more living in fear of what we can’t see...” Blank told himself as he took the first step into the No Pony’s Land.

He felt his stomach twist and churn as the paved road ended, and the Badlands began. The unmarked territory scared him for a handful of reasons—Queen Chrysalis, the few remaining Storm King soldiers, and some new, Celestia-forsaken threat being a few examples.

He ate these fears up and spat them out as he trekked along his journey, making sure to document whatever his eyes could see besides unclaimed soil and dead trees. His trotting pace slowly built up along with his confidence, seeing absolutely nothing too threatening. After a few hours of wandering and mapping, he noticed that the sun was starting to set and decided that it was time to search for a camping spot.

“Now where am I going to camp for the night?” The stallion asked himself, looking around for a good spot to set up camp.

He found a decent spot close to where the road used to be and trotted over to it, using his magic to scan for any form of threat. Once he knew that the coast was clear, he set his tent up with his horn and started gathering firewood with his magic, ready to set up camp for the night. As he continued to set up camp, he could swear that he saw a cloaked figure on the horizon, but always blamed it to the heat and possible mirages.

Blank Page never used much of his magic for shows of strength or elegant wizardry, but when he needed to multitask, he wasn’t afraid to demonstrate how skilled he really was. With one spell, he set a group of rocks the size of his hoof into a circle and with another, he set sticks and a few leaves onto the pit inside. He took a breath before deciding to add more rocks to avoid large amounts of smoke and light—two things that would stand out in the Badlands. As he set more rocks on top, he caught the sight of somepony covered by a cloak trotting over to him and sitting near the un-lit fire.

“Hello.” Blank started, bearing a small smile on his face.

The stranger took a moment to answer.

“Hi.”

Blank could’ve sworn that he knew that voice, but decided not to dwell on it.

“Nice night...” Blank felt the conversation start to die as soon as it started.

“Indeed, it is.” The stranger responded.

After a short silence, Blank decided not to continue with small-talk and used his horn to reach into his bag, pulling out a small bag of baked cookies.

“My mom’s a baker, I told her that I didn’t need them, but she must’ve snuck in a few bags of these things in with my pack... want one?” Blank asked, pulling out two and holding one of them out with his horn.

The stranger oddly snarled to herself as she reached out and took one, munching on it as Blank did the same.

“Wait, so, who sent... oh, these’re good.” The stranger told herself, cutting off her question.

“She still has that reward plaster on the kitchen wall she won with that recipe.” Blank laughed to himself, followed by the stranger.

“So... who sent you?” The stranger started again.

Blank took a moment to swallow the cookie in his mouth before answering.

“I’m not with anypony-- I kinda don’t wanna be with anypony.” Blank confessed.

The stranger hummed in surprise—all the other ponies she’d come across were usually sent by a certain somepony, this one was different...

“Me neither.” The stranger agreed, taking a moment to lean her face into the fire, showing her one scar and her broken horn.

The stranger gasped slightly before leaning in closer.

“Oh, I’m, uh, sorry...” He started, understanding her response to him using his magic earlier.

“It’s alright... I was a filly when it happened...” The stranger trailed off.

Blank nodded, understanding that she didn’t want to talk about it. He then realized that he never stated his name.

“I’m Blank Page.” He said, holding out his front hoof.

The stranger took a moment before removing her hood, revealing a rather familiar face.

“Oh... you’re Tempest Shadow.” Blank said, his hoof starting to shake.

She sighed and set her hood back on, before noticing that Blank’s hoof is still extended.

“You were pardoned by the princess, the hoofshake still stands.” Blank smiled, steadying his hoof.

Tempest smiled under the cloak and shook his hoof.

“Nice to meet you, Blank Page... so what brings you into the Badlands?” Tempest asked.

Blank scratched the back of his head before answering.

“I’m trying to map out the Badlands—at least enough so that we have a basic idea of what’s out here.”

Tempest perked her head up, curious about this mission.

“But... why?” She asked him.

“Because the only way to not be scared of the monster under the bed is to shine a light on it.” Blank recited.

Tempest hummed at this philosophy, it seemed interesting enough...

“So, your plan is to map out over 400 miles of dangerous, unimaginable territory just because you don’t wanna be scared of it?” She asked.

“I don’t want us to be scared of this place. It seems pleasant enough, and I’ve debunked my fair share of myths about this place—the sun and moon moving on their own, herds of feral ponies roaming the lands, a hostile changeling army at the helm, the list goes on. I’ve already mapped out the Everfree Forest, and I won’t let this be the one that takes me down.”

A short silence fell in as the two continued munching on cookies and making a few small-talk attempts. Eventually, it was dark and Tempest looked around before sighing.

“What’s wrong?” Blank asked.

“My camp’s a little way back, and at night... anything could be out here.” Tempest answered.

“Well, I could walk you back, o-or you could stay here... for the night... your choice.” Blank meekly offered.

Tempest chuckled at Blank’s chivalry, she’d forgotten how friendly ponies could be.

“Will all due respect, Blank, this isn’t a neighborhood walk—there're dozens of threats out here, and you need to be ready for anything. Anything...” Tempest stated.

Blank nodded and as Tempest began walking back, she heard a light rumble in the distance.

“Uh, oh...” Tempest started.

Blank looked around and saw nothing, even with his magic.

“What does ‘uh-oh’ mean?” Blank started.

Another rumble set in as Blank could see a figure leaping around the desert, getting closer to the fire.

“Klyntar... how good are you with magic?” Tempest asked.

“I’m decent, but not at fighting! And what the hay’s a ‘Klyntar’?!” Blank panicked.

“Just stay close and when I give the signal, trap it.”

The being leaped behind the pair, catching them off guard. A tendril reached for Tempest, causing her to use her broken horn to electrify it. The being hissed in pain as Blank gulped in terror. It was all black with hints of orange fur being exposed throughout its body, its eyes are all-white without a sign of mercy or compassion. Its teeth were sharp and jagged and came in at least 3 sets, followed by a long, pink tongue.

“Keep that thing in your mouth.” Tempest teased as she entered a fighting stance that Blank had never seen before.

“Um, what’re you--”

Blank didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence as Tempest charged the Klyntar, avoiding tendril strike after tendril strike. Once she got close, she leapt for the being’s head, wrapping her hind legs around the monster’s neck and starting to choke it out. As she continued, the Klyntar started submerging Tempest, causing her to panic and use her horn to electrify it, granting a short moment to escape the being’s grasp.

“Now!” Tempest called out.

Blank mustered up his courage and activated his horn, trapping the being in through a magical barrier. The monster roared viciously, trying to break the wall down-- for every hit it did on the force field, Blank felt it, causing him to hiss in pain. Tempest noticed his struggling and already had the solution.

“Use the campfire-- these things hate fire!” Tempest added.

That information was all Blank needed as he used his magic to lift up the campfire and merge it with the field containing the Klyntar.

The Klyntar screamed in pain as parasite and host began to burn, Blank was so mortified by the mixtures of screams that he used his horn to simply silence the field inside, unwilling to listen anymore. Blank stepped back, horrified at the scene. Tempest simply watched—stone-faced, showing no sense of compassion for the monster or the poor pony trapped inside. She then turned to see Blank slightly shaking and trotted over to him, setting her hoof on his shoulder.

“It was it or us—you can’t show mercy for them... they won’t do the same for you.” Tempest tried to comfort Blank.

Blank nodded at that philosophy—he knew that if he wanted to survive in the Badlands, he’d have to get his hooves dirty. He never liked the idea, he knew that it was part of survival, even if he couldn’t stomach it.

“So, these... things, they’re called “Klyntar”?” Blank asked, desperate to learn more about these creatures.

“That’s what the books I read said. They’re slime-like parasites who should seek a mutual bond with their hosts—each should benefit from the bonding... but these ones are different. Very different.” Tempest said.

This information made sense for Blank, odd as it was—he was always fascinated with aliens...

“Okay, so instead of a symbiotic relationship, they’re seeking for a parasitic one...” Blank figured.

“Pretty much. Almost half of every pony who came through here in the past 3 years ran into one of these freaks... not many got away.” Tempest somberly added.

Blank took a moment to register the information provided to him—he wasn’t the first brave or stupid pony to explore the Badlands...

“We have to warn Princess Celestia.” Blank realized.

“Don’t bother, I tried already. They wouldn’t even let me through the door.” Tempest started.

“But why--” Blank quickly remembered the events that unfolded several months ago, with Tempest attacking Equestria and trapping the princesses in stone.

“Yeah... they wouldn’t exactly listen to me…"

“But they might listen to me.” Blank said, rising up and setting his destination for the Equestrian Capital.

Tempest wasn’t so eager to go, inclining Blank to turn back to face her.

“You coming?” He asked.

Tempest smiled at Blank’s dedication and decided to tag along—what was the worst they could do to a pardoned convict?

“So, allow me to understand this situation: You wish for us to believe that in the Badlands, there has been an invasion that has gone unnoticed for three years, and the invaders are slime-like parasites who attack and bond with whomever was unfortunate enough to encounter said parasites?” Princess Celestia asked, staring down upon the lone couple.

“Y-yes, Your Highness—I know how it sounds, but these creatures are real, and they are very dangerous.” Blank Page stammered.

Silence set in as Tempest simply glanced around the room, avoiding making eye contact with Celestia. Blank Page, however, stared her dead in the eye, desperate to prove his point.

“Blank, I am aware that you were one of the top graduates of your class—even a recommendation to my school, and I am aware of your... past relations with Princess Twilght Sparkle...”

Tempest glanced over to Blank, who winced after hearing her name—it had been 5 years since he met her, and 3 years since they stopped talking.

“...But if you wish for me to believe this story, we need proof—evidence of this parasite’s existence. False claims of alien threats have come more and more common since the invasion of Storm King’s army--”

“Which if I recall was commanded by a certain pony in this room...” Luna bitterly— and oddly roughly— added, much to her sister’s disappointment.

“Luna!” Celestia turned and glared at her sister, causing her to gasp, clear her throat and trot backwards.

Tempest took her comment to heart, lowering her head and ears.
 
“With all due respect, Your Highnesses, Tempest Shadow is not like that anymore—she saved my life, and that’s something I can’t forget.” Blank defended.

Tempest perked her ears up and smiled to herself, doing everything she could from making her eyes go misty.

Celestia took a step forward, desperate to make up for her sister’s brash comment.

“I will send a team of elite guards into the Badlands searching for signs or evidence of these creatures. Is there anything we should know about them, any weakness?” Celestia asked.

“They hate fire, that’s all I know.” Blank responded.

Celestia nodded and excused the pair of them. They both bowed their heads and trotted out of the large day court. Once the large doors had closed behind them, Celestia instantly turned to her younger sister.

“What was that for?! She’s beat up as it is, Luna-- the last thing she needs was to hear that from you!” Celestia whispered, her wings spanning outwards.

“I’m sorry, I... don’t know what came over me. One minute I was calm and collected... the next, I’m...”

Celestia tilted her head and noticed a long, white tendril extending from Luna’s back...

“Oh, no...” Celestia gasped, her pupils dilating and her wings bending downwards.

Blank and Tempest had exited the large Canterlot castle and started searching for a way out of the city.

“We have to find a place to lay low, put this on.” Blank handed Tempest a large straw hat and sunglasses.

“I... don’t know how to respond to that.” Tempest said, rejecting the ridiculous hat.

“If your scars don’t give away who you are, your hor— your... mohawk will.” Blank stopped himself from hitting another insecurity.

Tempest huffed and put on the large hat and sunglasses, covering her hair and scars.

“There’s a train not so far from here, it goes around Equestria.” Blank offered.

Before the pair had time to react, royal guards charged at the direction of the two, causing Blank to bolt in front of Tempest, ready to take the blow.

But the guards trotted right past them and into the castle, worrying Blank.

“Wait... we didn’t take any of those things with us, did we?” Blank asked.

Tempest gulped, knowing that it was a possibility.

“I don’t think so, but one of them could’ve used one of us as a carrier, transporting it to a large population...” Tempest whispered in fear.

Blank gasped and checked himself for any signs of Klyntar, but found nothing.

“Princess Luna! Restrain her!” A guard shouted.

“Luna?” Blank perked his head up and charged inside, followed by Tempest.

The two ran in to see Celestia on the ground, bleeding out from large bite marks on her hindlegs, guards fighting with a large, white alicorn Klyntar with hints of blue showing throughout...

“Oh, no...” Blank whispered as he charged in, ready to fight.

“Blank, let’s go! The guards can handle--”

Tempest was interrupted by a loud chomping sound and the sound of somepony getting thrown into a wall...

“Start a fire, I’ll find a way to keep it busy!” Blank said, trying desperately to block out the sounds of chomping and crunching.

Tempest looked around and saw a lit torch on a wall; she grabbed the torch with her mouth and charged to help Blank take care of the Klyntar.

Blank was trying to use his horn to trap the princess, but she would use her magic to destroy his barrier. He eventually decided to grab one of the dead guards’ spears and charged with it, but he didn’t get far—Luna back-handed him into the wall, causing him to drop the spear...

Onto a rack full of them.

The rack fell and the noise caused the Klyntar to hiss in pain, with tendrils extending randomly. Blank looked up, saw the display and knew what to do—he used his magic to grab two of the dropped spears and clash them together, causing the being to roar in pain, clutching its ears and the slime to begin to separate from Luna’s face, showing her horrified expression. Blank then grabbed more spears and used them to trap the parasite, clashing one around them to cause as much sound as possible.

With one last great clang of the spears, Luna was visible, triggering Blank to grab her with his magic and yank her out, leaving the angry Klyntar behind.

Emphasis on “angry”.

The being was over 10 feet tall, growing arms and leaving the eyes behind... Blank backed away from fear, clueless as to what to do about the large, snarling creature behind him.

“That’s... um... fascinating.” Blank stammered.

Tempest then barged into the room, took a moment to gasp at the Klyntar’s size, swallowed up her fear, and charged it, holding the lit torch in her mouth, ready to fight. However, the Klyntar grabbed Tempest by the throat and swatting the torch away from her, causing it to get put out. The being then took a moment to study Tempest, eager for a new, stronger host to infect. Before it was able to infect her, Blank pulled her out, leaving her in the separate hallway. The monster then turned to Blank Page, forming a horrifying, distorted growl.

The Klyntar charged at Blank, but the being was blocked by a wall of fire.

The two species turned to see Celestia using her magic to shoot fire at the Klyntar, causing it to roar at Celestia and try to charge at her, which only made the burning more effective. It was a few meters away from Celestia’s face when it burnt down to nothing, leaving the silent, empty room before them...

Luna looked up and saw the dead guards—some missing limbs and another missing his head and began choking in fear and pain.

“Wha... what was that thing?” She managed, tears streaming down her face like a flood.

Celestia limped over to her sister and rested a wing over her, comforting the two of them.

“That thing... was a Klyntar.” Blank stated, still catching his breath from the amazing display of teamwork.

Celestia nodded to herself, ready to act.

“Get my sister to the infirmary, and someone get the other princesses—we need to calculate our next course of action against these... Klyntar. Furthermore, Day Court is closed until further notice, these parasites are officially Equestria’s top priority. As of right now...”

Tempest broke through the wall, landing onto the ground.

“...We are at war.” Celestia demanded.