Shattered fragments of enchanted metal lay in waste on the ground. What had once been a stone floor was now gone, and grass poked up between the heavy shards. Cheerful voices rang loud and clear, the stomping of delighted hooves thundering across the open meadow. The warm sun seemed stronger than ever in the excitement, and no cloud seemed able to block it out.
"Grogar's gone!" a young blue unicorn was raised up on her back legs, kicking the air as she called out, "No more Tambeleon!" Other ponies all spoke their agreement, joy and laughter filling the once cold space.
"Grogar?" a lime green unicorn hurried over, multicoloured tail waving in the wind, "Grogar appeared?" The other ponies stared at her for a moment, as if confused, but then realization filled their eyes.
"Oh, you were off at that magic show, weren't you, Mimic," Buttons commented, "How did it go?"
"Well more importantly, what happened here?" Mimic responded. She stepped forward anxiously, as if unsure and trying to get a better look at everything. As she did, her hoof made contact with some of the pieces of the bell the ponies had used to defeat the tyrant Grogar. For a moment, her horseshoe flashed, but then nothing.
"Did you see that?" a small pink filly with a bib for a symbol nudged her friend, "It lit up like a glowstick!"
"You're always thinking of toys," the lavender filly beside her retorted, flicking her teal mane from her eyes, "It was just twinkling. Gold is very twinkly!" The pink filly pondered for a moment, then nodded agreement. As each pony spoke over the other, eager to explain what had happened, the green unicorn looked around in worry. Her once glittering eyes
now seemed glossy with unease.
"Is something the matter?" Buttons finally asked, but Mimic shook her head. She seemed to be hiding something, but none of the other ponies wanted to ask about it. They all guessed she was just tired from the long journey, as the magic show had been all the way in another kingdom. Eventually, everypony dispersed and that was the end of that. Baby Tiddly-Winks, the pink filly with the bib, also forgot of what she had seen and left with the others. Baby Half Note was right, it was probably just the twinkling from the horseshoes she wore.
"Bray!"
A harrowing shout echoed through the darkness, the voice as cold as ice. A scraggly donkey-like creature stepped out of the shadows, head bowed in politeness, legs shaking in fear.
"Yes, O'Grogar?"
"Why is it that those ponies were able to reach the bell?"
"I do not know..."
"Because you were too useless to pay attention!" the deep voice bellowed through the eternal black, and Bray began to shake even harder. The creature shouting was a ram-like figure with blue fur and deeper blue horns. His eyes shone red in the few flickers of light that made it into the Realm of Darkness. Bray was but a mere rabbit, stunned as it gazed into the eyes of a hungry fox.
"I'm sorry, O'Grogar! I really am!" Bray sobbed. He hadn't wanted to let himself cry. As much of a coward as he was, he tried to still hold some dignity. But Grogar didn't care, and the jingling of his remaining bells accompanied his sadistic chuckling.
"You think I care if you're sorry? You failed, Bray. I entrusted you with my biggest source of power, and you broke that trust! Do you really expect me to forgive you?" His voice was edged with a sinister tone, and Bray gritted his teeth.
"I didn't mean to... The ponies tricked me!"
"Because you were stupid enough to fall for their tricks!" Grogar shouted back. Bray looked up, any sign of hope gone from his eyes.
"But you also fell for their-" he was cut off as a giant blue hoof made contact with his cheek. Grogar growled as he always did when frustrated, and Bray instantly regretted what he had said.
"You dare to speak back to me!?" now Grogar was in a rage. Bray tried to back away, but was struck once again in the nose. He winced at the blood trickling down onto his lips, but there was nowhere to run to. The Realm of Darkness was infinite, and he knew Grogar was much faster than him. All he could do was accept what punishment was given to him, for failing such a tyrannical leader...