I woke up to find that I was back in the woods, but something wasn’t right. The trees and grass were dead. The air was as cold as death, and the sky gave off a dark bluish hue. I could see thick clouds and thunder erupting from the distance, almost like a never ending thunderstorm.
I’m not in Equestria anymore.
“Ah, your awake. Good.”
I jumped and immediately turned my body towards the voice. Coming out from the shadows was a stallion with black fur and a long black mane. The most noticeable feature was his bright ice blue eyes. I’ve never seen anything like them.
“I figured taking the form of a.... pony would bring comfort to you. But don’t expect me to keep this body for long, I’ve always despised such creatures.”
I couldn’t help but notice the tone of his voice, something about it sounded very familiar. He seemed to notice this and smiled.
“Come now, don’t tell me you have forgotten your own father have you?” He said giving off a charming grin, showing off his perfect white teeth. My eyes widened as it finally dawned on me, it’s been years since I first heard my father’s voice. I always thought the voice in my head was some unknown entity trying to control me.
“D-dad? It’s really you isn’t it?”
He nodded. “I’ve seen you have grown, ah if only you’re true mother were here. A shame a ponies’ body could be so weak.”
Just as I was about to ask him the one question I’ve been waiting so long to have answered, he seemed to have read my mind.
“I fell in love with your mother many years ago, it was fun, for a while. She gave birth to you but ended up losing her life in the process. I knew the moment she was pregnant that her death was inevitable, the body of a mare was never meant to give birth to... what do they call us? Ah, a demon.”
I couldn’t help but feel my heart stop, she’s been dead all this time? I looked at the cold dark earth in silence.
“I know it’s not what you wanted to hear son, but if it makes you feel better, she loved you very much.” I smiled, at least I know now. It felt like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, hopefully she has found peace.
“Now then, follow me. It’s time I showed you your real home.” He motioned for me to follow him and I never hesitated. We walked silently side by side through the dead forest until we reached the open fields. To say I was shocked at what I witnessed would be an understatement.
A colossal castle stood valiantly on top of a hill, surrounding it was a vast sea of death. Not one once of life could be seen in this realm. No sunlight, plants, grass, or trees. I noticed the rivers flowing crimson red, I realized to my horror that it was blood. Many hideous abominations roamed the lands, searching for something I have yet to know.
“The realm of the damned, many lost souls wander this place. Trapped here in eternal suffering, waiting for a merciful rest that will never come.” He placed a hoof on my shoulder. “See my child, we feed on the pain of these poor souls. Their essence is our power.”
We leech off these souls just for our power? I... I don’t feel good about this. If I was ever to tell Celestia, I don’t know how she would react. This was just pure evil.
Then it hit me... mother.
I snapped my head towards my father and jerked his hoof away. “Where is my mother Dawn, did you cause that fire?!” He noticed the anger in my voice and furrowed his eyebrows.
“Watch it Eclipse. Use that tone again and you’ll feel exactly what it’s like to suffer like these fools.” I instantly backed down from his threat, I knew he was serious.
He smiled once more as if nothing happened. “An unfortunate death, one that wasn’t my doing. The real enemies here are the ponies you live with in that world.” He answered.
I raised my eyebrows at this. “What do you mean?” I asked, leaning my head forward slightly.
“For now only I can give a name, the rest is up to you. “Maverick” know that I will be watching you my son, and one more thing.” He looked around cautiously as if he was expecting somepony to be listening to us.
“This is very important Eclipse and I will only say this once. If any creature knows your true name, you will be severely weakened. Do not let this happen, whoever finds out the truth, there’s only one thing you can do. Kill them and send their soul to rot here for eternity. Now then... it’s time.”
He brought his lips up close to my ear and the whole world fell silent. His whisper was low and brief, but I heard it very clearly.
“Tal’doron.”
The underworld responded to this as screams started echoing throughout the realm. My eyes widened as I saw hundreds upon hundreds of bright white wisps scattering together up in the sky. Not a moment sooner, they all shot towards my body with lightning speed. I gasped as they pierced my chest, power coursed swiftly through my whole body. It’s like my soul has finally awaken after a long slumber, consumed with an insatiable hunger for power.
I knew exactly who I was now.
My brain flooded with vast knowledge of who I really am and what I could do. There was so much I could achieve. Equestria was but a play ground for me now.
My father smiled proudly and stepped back into the shadows. “Rise once more my son, the hunt has commenced.”
A bright light blinded my eyes only to soon be taken by blackness once more.
The sun spread its warmth across Equestria once again. Two members of the royal guard walked side by side in the woods. One had light brown fur with a blonde mane and blue eyes. The bigger guard had dark blue fur with a white mane and brown eyes.
“You really think a witch lived in this house?” The guard on the left in light brown asked his partner, a hint of fear in his voice.
“That’s what some of the townsfolk have said, others have also stated that she summoned a demon. But I’m sure these are just rumors.” The one in dark blue answered, shaking his head from these unimaginable lies. “We’ve only been ordered to search the house and for somepony named Eclipse. We go in, get our guy, and return him to Canterlot. Should be simple.”
The other nodded and relaxed, but he couldn’t help but smell the unmistakable odor of smoke in the air.
“Um... Stonewall, do you smell that? I swear it smells like...” They stopped dead when they discovered the crumbled ruins of what used to be a house, now charred and forgotten. But what made their blood run cold was a stallion with a messy black mane and dirty white fur coated in ash sitting stock still in front of the burnt house. His back was turned away from them.
They both looked to each other and back to him. Stonewall cautiously stepped forward and cleared his throat.
“E-excuse sir, you wouldn’t happen to be Eclipse would you?” He asked gently.
I couldn’t stop the flow of bloody tears running down my cheeks, but I opened my eyes upon hearing my name. I turned my head steadily and stared deep into their souls. The faces they gave me truly showed the monstrosity I really have become.
They were completely speechless, I noticed the one in the back shaking like a tree, he started backing away while the other stood his ground.
“I-I knew i-it! The rumors are true, she did summon a demon! We need to leave Stonewall, please!” The scrawny one pleaded, I wanted to smirk at his behavior. But something inside me screamed to have me spare these ponies.
The big one I assumed to be Stonewall kept his composure and continued to face me. “Eclipse, we don’t want trouble, we’re not the enemy here. The princess wants you back, we all just want want to help you.”
His dark brown eyes pleaded for me to come peacefully.
My anger started to grow once more, only more severe. I gritted my teeth and gave Stonewall a death stare. “Help me?! After what happened to my mother, you're beyond helping me.” My voice crushed their spirits, I could sense it. The young unicorn ran for his life while Stonewall’s eyes widened in horror.
I shifted right in front of him in the blink of an eye, startling him immensely. “Wait Eclipse please! I know there’s good in you, ju- GAHHHHHHH!”
With the touch of my hoof, his body convulsed until his skin steadily melted from his body. His muscles and organs followed soon after until there was nothing left but his bones.
His cries of agony could be heard throughout the forest as I sent his soul deep into the forbidden depths of the underworld. The poor stallion ran faster than I ever expected him to. Sadly for him... nothing can escape me. A rotten fleshy tentacle latched on to his back left leg, causing him to trip and make a hard impact on the ground. He screamed and begged for his life as I pulled him effortlessly to me. Once he knew I was standing over him he curled up in a ball and started whimpering.
My heart ached upon seeing him like this, this stallion was younger than me. I saw that he had parents that were proud of him, there was a mare friend eagerly waiting for his return from his duty as a guard. I-I couldn’t do it.
I would be no better than my mother’s murderers. To have their parents lose their son, and the love of his life taken away from her. A potential to be a married couple in the future, have a beautiful foal, and live as a happy family for the rest of their lives. I could take that all away right now.
But I will not.
I leaned down and turned his head so he could look right into my eyes. He seemed mesmerized by my gaze, I least I know it’s working.
I used a kind and soothing voice, it was almost as if my mother was speaking for me. The sun’s rays shined down upon us, it seemed unnatural.
“You will forget what ever happened here. Go home, spend the afternoon with your parents. In the evening you will bring your loving mare to the river. Sit under the blissful moonlight, and tell her how much you love her.”
All the fear I inflicted on him has vanished. He got up slowly, obeyed with a nod, turned and calmly walked away. Off to an unforgettable future, one where he’ll be smiling at the end.
”You may show kindness to these creatures for now Eclipse. But soon all will end up like poor Stonewall, in time. His soul belongs to us now. You cannot hide who you are forever.”
I could never forgive my self for what I did. Anger caused an innocent, kindhearted stallion to spend the rest of his life in endless torture. There must be some way to free his soul.
Perhaps I could give his bones a proper burial, I know it will never be enough to justify what I did. But maybe it will help ease his suffering.
Once that’s done I must return to Canterlot, Celestia sent those guards for a reason after all. I must tell her what happened to Stonewall, but maybe I can bend the truth just a bit.
However, my thirst for vengeance has just begun. And it starts with Maverick. When I find him I’ll be sure to bring him to the deepest parts of the underworld myself, and kill him over, and over again.
Things are going to get very interesting.