//------------------------------//
// 1 - Genesis - Rewritten 
// Story: To Be Malevolent 
// by The Bannerlord 
//------------------------------//

Equestria was prosperous. It had been for centuries. Centuries since the years of terror, of suffering due to one Pony. A dark and malevolent being. No one knew his true motive, no one understood his creation, or his creations. Yet, dark times approached like they always had. Equestria once more stood on the brink of conflict.

Here in the Everfree forest, where the Equestrian Capital was located, a group of Unicorns hurriedly made their escape towards the spire in front. Walls had collapsed from disrepair. Antiquated weapons of archaic origin laid in rest. Here around the fortress, those ponies sought to make their shelter. To escape from their predators, they found a predator which would’ve made their hunters prey.

A bitter calm hovered in the air. Here in the fortress, abandoned for centuries, there were unwelcomed intruders. An eerie silence reigned over the archaic structure, seeping into the minds of explorers, raiders, cultists of all kinds. Worshippers of the Sun came here too. Occasionally, they would send prisoners here to perish. Yet today was a new dawn. One where the shroud once more overtakes the sun. 

All around, the sound of hooves beating against the cold, archaic stone floor halted. All around, Unicorns stared in awe in one direction, and one direction only. The thick mist of the centre of the chamber parted to reveal the one they have been so tirelessly attempting to release from the ancient dungeon. 

Upon a pedestal of jagged rocks, stood a figure donning heavy armour and a spiked crown with a cape draped along his back. This figure bore a charcoal coat, their mane as dark as midnight, flowing wildly, unkempt. Eyes completely white, accompanied by a bright glow which completely disguised the pupils. On this figure’s forehead, was a horn, a jagged horn with sparks emitting from it. Across the regalia covered Unicorn’s visage, there was a stoic expression like no other.

 There he stood. Head held high, entire body straight. Eyes peering down towards the congregation. Beneath him, the thick mist shrouded the lower part of his form, almost brushing at his forelegs. Behind him, there lied an open sarcophagus, dark energy billowing from its interior.

Those before the Dark Unicorn cowered in fear. Some were attempting to scramble away from his vicinity. Some attempted to compose themselves before this menace, but the sight of their fleeing comrades halted any progress they might have made. 

“Stop.” Commanded the Dark Unicorn, his voice echoed across the enclosed chamber. A simple word, one meaning, one purpose. But once it was spoken, the chamber froze. Everything was silent. Those who attempted to escape were now facing the Unicorn. The voice that spoke was deep, one perfect for a leader, a powerful authority. But not demonic, softer like silk, yet laced with venom. Just one word spoken shook the unprepared to bone marrow. 

Then, he chuckled, calmly strutting forward to those who stood before him. “I feel as free as bird in the winds. Freed from its cage, so wrongly imprisoned.” The Dark Unicorn uttered, stretching his limbs, “And now, surrounded by… all of you. Who subjected me to this cruelty? Don’t answer that.” The clicking of joints coming soon after. He approached a Unicorn, donning a circlet with a cloak draped along his back was clearly the leader of the ensemble. Examining him, the Darker Unicorn noticed a distinct lavender coat. Reminding him of… Trivial.

“Get up on your hooves.” Commanded the Dark Unicorn as looked down to his servant, disappointment in his voice. “Clearly you are the only one worthy of my attention.” Continued the shade-like Unicorn with a deeper speech, expression still neutral.

“Your eminence, we are yours to command.” Replied the smaller Unicorn as he rose and watched as the Dark Unicorn hold in his laughter. He was visibly perplexed by this action.

The larger Unicorn looked down at his subordinate. “You humour me.” He spoke, voice no longer that of the authoritarian but of silkiness. “You bring to Chaos, the King of Shades, Lord of Fear itself, an ensemble of terrified young Unicorns, knowing full well that I will feed on their terror.” He paused, licking a fang. “You bring me my century-due breakfast. Perhaps, you’ve brought me my newest army.”

Chaos suddenly shifted his gaze to the others in the room. He chuckled, narrowing his eyes on the group.

The Dark Unicorn fired a blast of magic into towards the ceiling, and all except for his subordinate collapsed onto the ground, writhing in anguish. Faint clouds with varying colors of magic began to approach him, or rather, his crown. All entering into the magically enhanced piece of jewelry. Tapping the crown, a transparent blanket of pure white magic enveloped his form, as a surge of magic entered into him.

Chaos turned back to his servant, who stood, true to his word, ready for orders. His expression twisted into one of seriousness. “Do you know of my story? Of why I am here, speaking to you, freed from my tomb after centuries of imprisonment? At least, I presume it has been centuries. Your cloak and circlet appear to be… More refined.” He questioned, staring inquisitively at the one who thought himself loyal. 

“Your eminence, I have studied all that was in the athenaeum of Canterlot. Much of the information was incomplete and some were blatant false rumours. My ‘disciples’,” He paused, motioning over to the unconscious forms nearby. “were very careful on picking out proper information that have not been tainted.” He finished, going back to the near-motionless state he was in previously.

Clapping of hooves followed suit. Smiling, Chaos applauded his newest servant, trotting past him and facing the wall. “Oh, my dear Celestia~. Have they forgotten me already?” He feigned a sigh, a chuckle following suite. “I do wonder how well you’ve been these past centuries. And Luna too.” He chuckled once more.

The lesser Unicorn tilted his head in confusion, observing the antics and sudden change of behaviour from his new Master.

He arrived at the blank canvas of a wall. Unleashing a blast of dark magic, he began creating hieroglyphs, attempting to document as much of his early history as he could mentally conjure. The wall before him combusted into white flame, scripture seemingly appearing from the aether.

“Now then, I believe it time for a tale.”





Time Skip – Past





It was yet another day in Equestria. It was noon. The sun hung high as it should. Nothing in particular, nothing of importance. Yet another day in Equestria. However, it wasn’t just another day in Equestria. In fact, Equestria wasn’t even the name of this land. Only recently was the new Kingdom of Unicornia founded. Only recently was the sky city of Pegasopolis founded in the clouds. Only recently was the land given the name ‘Earth’.

In the centre of this land was the Everfree woodland. A small forest named for its diverse ecosystem, for the exotic creatures that inhabited it. Free from the race of Equines that only recently settled here. A woodland of pure natural and untamed beauty, untapped by magic. Uncorrupted. Free.

Now, there sat a Unicorn on the forest floor, basking in the glory of the morning sun. Seconds prior, where the Unicorn sat was nothing. Then, came a blinding light. With it, emerged a pony. Coat, ashen grey. Mane, wildly flowing was as stygian as the midnight sky. Eyes, a dark brown. On his flank, a mark unlike any other, the silhouette of a Peregrine. A stranger to this world, an outlander. Foreign to the inhabitants of this land, yet so similar.

The Peregrine Unicorn collapsed onto the ground, clutching his head and groaning in pain. He squirmed and attempted to stand, only to collapse yet again. Hanging his head low, he inhaled and held his breath. Once again, attempting to stand, but this time, he managed to stand for a prolonged period of time. He carefully examined his appendages, fur covered and soft.

Then, he attempted moving. Each step was a battle of its own. In fact, he was practically dragging his hooves around instead of walking. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience. Eventually, he understood the simplest mechanics of his own body. It merely took him hour after hour of attempting to stand. By the time he had done, it felt as if a day had passed.

Glancing around, he saw an empty land. One free of civilisation. Not a house in sight, not a fence, not even roads. Merely small clearings in distant woodland. It was breath-taking. There, in the distant lands were mountains, their jagged peaks reaching for the stars. There, in the far reaches of the forest, a humble river made its residence. Flowing with iridescence. Shimmering as light touched its surface.

The Unicorn took in the vivid scenery, breathing in the rich air, one which he had seldom tasted in his prior life. The verdant landscapes were boundless, rolling towards the distant sun. Flocks of birds flew freely in the skies, their wings fluttered and they chirped their melodies. This, this was nature at its finest. At the apex of its glory. This, this was nature at its apex. The Peregrine felt free. Yet, he felt trapped. Stuck here in this unknown land, unable to reach his home. All would feel the same, if they were so carelessly ripped from their homes.

He could hear a voice speak within his mind.

‘You will be compatible, Host. Take good care of my creations, for we shall speak no longer.’

The voice radiated authority and power, it echoed within his head. Not a moment after, pain had arrived. It was brief, yet excruciating. He collapsed onto the ground, gritting his teeth, seething at the voice. 

When it was over, he felt an inexplicable sensation at his forehead. Something completely foreign to him, warm, cold, indescribable. Was this magic? The Unicorn pondered as he watched the setting sun, almost spiting him as it disappeared from view. Then came droplets of rainwater, the signal to a downpour. He stood back up, trotting towards the unknown forest, on the way, pondering what event had just occurred. He could almost hear echoing laughter, more cackle and maniacal.

As he entered the woods, the wail of thousands reverberated within his mind. He wanted to leave, but subconsciously, something compelled him forward. And that terrified him, beyond what he had ever experienced. He curled up into a ball of damp fur, crying to himself in the seemingly perpetual woodland. He couldn’t endure this torment. He had sat there, waiting for the cries to end. Eventually, they ended. He glanced around in disbelief. But there was another trial to pass.

Wolves. They prowled the woodland, hunting for easy game such as this Unicorn. They growled, almost in unison. Surrounding their prey, one prepared to pounce. The Peregrine felt time slow at that moment. He felt something click in his mind. Instinctively, his horn combusted into white flame and a bolt of magic was unleashed, crashing into the predator and searing their pelt. The wolf cried out in agony, whimpering as his flesh boiled, revealing the contents beneath. 

The others witness the grand display and decided to retreat, fearing for their lives.

The Unicorn stood onto his hooves, carefully approaching the now deceased canine. This creature was the first sentient mammal slain by his hooves. He prodded the animal, and licked his lips. He liked it. He liked killing that which had threatened his life. Chuckling at the freshly killed trophy, he took the nearest stick and prepared a fire. Despite the outburst of magic, he had yet to learn how to control such. In fact, he didn’t even know magic could exist.

Finding pebbles wasn’t a very difficult task, he prepared to sharpen them. But that is where his next problem arose. Hooves, not hands. That is an issue. He desperately needed to learn magic. 

The carcass would have to wait. He was starving now. There was a river nearby, perhaps fish could sate him for now. So, he began his perilous journey through the eerie woods. He could hear whispers resonate through the trees. Unnatural hisses reverberating as he drew closer to what seemed to be yet another cave next to the river.

But as he stood at its entrance, that is where the cries resonated the most. It was piercing. Yet, through stupendous courage, he braved through and continued into the dark cave. At the end, was a luminescent beam. Its source was a crystalline tree. Radiant. Illuminating the main chamber. It was blinding. Yet, the glow was faint. Embedded within the tree were six fine crystals, each seemingly dormant with an equally dull glow as the tree. But something dark emanated from the tree. Something vile. He could inherently feel it.

Pressing a hoof onto the tree, his eyes widened in horror. Images flashed through his mind, though too incomprehensible to be seen. All he could truly see however, was blood. A field, where he stood. Blood everywhere. Battered pieces of armour laying on the soaked ground, ripped banners hanging dully. The stench.

Faint laughter echoed.

He recoiled from the tree. No flashes. No fields of battle. Just the crystalline tree. Just the cave. Just the crystals. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, he heard the clip-clop of hooves and rolling of wheels at the cave entrance. So, he found the largest boulder to hide behind, examining the intruder. What he saw was a rather young light grey Unicorn, a brown mane and tail, eyes, golden, dressed in an azure cloak. Behind him, a cart carrying potions, books, ingredients of all kind. All he lacked was a hat.

The light grey Unicorn cautiously approached the crystalline tree, intrigued by its unique majesty, examining every facet of its excellence. It seemed that he too was attracted by the cave’s anomalous properties, yet for a different purpose. He began writing a note on the tree, eyes glued onto the book as he appeared to write every detail.

The darker Unicorn slowly began to leave, hooves lightly tapping the ground as his head was turned to the lighter Unicorn. Unfortunately, his attempted escape was noticed. He attempting to gallop, the unfamiliarity of his new body failing him miserably, and the Unicorn fell face-first into the muddy floor.

Instead of hounding the unknown outlander, the light grey Unicorn slowly approached, though still keeping at a distance as the slightly smaller and darker pelted ‘pony’ attempted to scramble, it was a rather pathetic display.

To the outlander’s surprise, the golden-eyed Unicorn before him didn’t attack out of fear. A calming sigh escaped his lips as he carefully stood back up. Both looked at each other, one eyebrow raised in unison.

“Is this how you greet people?” The taller Unicorn amusedly asked, though his expression changed to slight annoyance when the other expressed slight shock.

“No, no not at all! I greet people like any sane person. We could try again by introducing ourselves. Well?”

“Starswirl, potion-enthusiast according to my peers.” The blue-cloaked Unicorn respectfully bowed, “They aren’t wrong.” He added and chuckled, unaware of the other Unicorn’s expression. Tilting his head, he looked on expectantly. “And you?”

No response.

Starswirl lifted a hoof and waved at him. “Hello?”

Silent. The Unicorn was motionless.

“Is everything okay in there?” The light grey Unicorn was about to wave again, when he was stopped but another hoof.

“No, no, everything is perfectly okay. Nothing is wrong!” The darker Unicorn quickly fumbled his words out, still shocked from the revelation. Starswirl. Pony. This land is Equestria. This isn’t even the same planet as Earth. He was horrified by the detail, yet a grin found itself on his face. He knew the history of the land- No. Starswirl looked rather young. This was the past, he knew the future.

Starswirl was rather amused by the charcoal Unicorn’s antics, though still confused at his sudden outburst. “Are you sure? You seem rather shook yourself.”

The Unicorn became quite agitated, adopting a rather petulant expression. “Of course, don’t… Just stop asking questions! Besides, I have some questions of my own to ask you.”

“Of course, ask away, nameless one.” The light grey Unicorn responded, facing the other intently.

There were uncountable amounts of questions he could’ve asked the brown maned Unicorn, yet the Peregrine felt cautious. When in Equestria’s history was this very moment? If he spoke of anything that occurred in the future, even accidentally, there could be unforeseen consequences. No, he had to be careful.

“Where are we?”

“Elaborate on that, we are in a cave in this yet un-named forest. We are in a land yet un-named. We have only recently arrived- Wait…” A pause.

Oh no.

“Didn’t you come with us on the exodus to this new land? No… I don’t recognise you, in fact, you’re the only Unicorn I have seen with a pelt that dark. You’re not from old Unicornia are you?”

Oh, thank god. “Uh… No. No, I am not… from old Unicornia.”

“Stumbling over your words?” Starswirl asked, now suspicious of this unknown Unicorn. “Is there something you’re not disclosing to me? Are you a bandit? I want the full truth.”

The ashen Unicorn narrowed his eyes, expression twisting into seriousness. “Can you handle the full truth, even if it could horrify you?” 

“If I so wish. Yes, tell me everything. Every detail. Nothing left out, then I can trust you and allow you to leave.”

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, the darker Unicorn began. “Very well. I am not from this planet. I have only recently arrived here. I do not know magic. I do not understand the basic concept. I do not even understand my own body fully, and that terrifies me. There was a voice I heard when I arrived here. It said something… something about me being ‘compatible’.”

As the light grey Unicorn heard ‘voice’, a peculiar sound emanated from the tree. Although his acquaintance appeared to not have noticed it. He decided it was best to continue, ignoring the sound. “Intriguing. Continue.”

“That tree. Some unnatural force led me to it. I don’t like that. It showed me a vision… of something. A battlefield, mostly. Dead everywhere. A field of red. Blood. It… was unpleasant to say the least.”

“Goodness... Well, the tree is an anomaly, never seen anything of that sort. It felt as if something compelled me to come here, to this cave. Odd. It must be the tree itself.”

“You don’t trust me… do you?”

“No. Not fully, no. But let us leave this damnable place, lest we deal with that again, then.”

Yet another sigh. “I agree.”

Both Unicorns quickly took their leave, a sign is placed outside of the cave, marking it a dangerous location. The lighter Unicorn dragged his cart and the darker narrowing his eye on the crystalline tree. Somehow, it sounded as if it still spoke to him, jeering and laughing at him. He ignored it, choosing instead to face the entrance.

Starswirl looked over to his travelling ‘companion’, still yet to be granted the name of the fellow Unicorn. In truth, he couldn’t comprehend every word that came out of that Unicorn’s maw. Everything he spoke sounded impossible, yet it ignited a spark within his mind. Could it be achieved perhaps? A multi-dimensional spell was unheard of, yet if he could create such, it would be revolutionary. Yet, he wasn’t fully confident with his abilities.

“So, now that we aren’t occupied with the crystalline tree, you can properly introduce yourself.”

“Ah, well. That’s an issue. I don’t really go by any name, at least not here. A new land, new opportunity. Didn’t really think about a name.”

Then, Starswirl noticed the mark on his flank. Not anything obvious, just a bird. He wasn’t a Pegasus, odd. “You say you’re a stranger. Peregrine. I’ll call you Peregrine.” He spoke, and in response, he was given a nod.

Afterwards, he decided to scan the charcoal Unicorn’s magical signature. Strange. Similar to the… tree. Somewhat hazy. Difficult to fully identify. An unusual darkness associated with it. He decided it was a mere spectacle, nothing else.

The two continued on their rather quiet journey. They didn’t have a direction to go. They just continued forward, wherever forward led them. Starswirl yet again broke the silence, thinking back to a piece of information granted to him in the cave. “You don’t know magic, you said?”

Slightly caught off guard, the charcoal Unicorn turned his head. “No, as I said. I have no experience. I have only just arrived here yesterday.”

Yesterday. An unnatural surge in magical energy within the forest occurred yesterday. Dark in essence. Vile. With every passing moment, Starswirl could hear it, a voice or echoing laughter. Something was wrong with him. “Never mind…”

“Speaking of magic. I require a tutor,” The charcoal Unicorn paused, raising an eyebrow at Starswirl, whom for the briefest moment, had fear plastered onto his visage. He shook it off, and beckoned him to continue. “…and I believe you could help immensely, yes?”

The light grey Starswirl stopped in place, turning to face his travelling companion. He shook his head and sighed. “It is cruel to deny a Unicorn his right to magic. Come, I will attempt to show you the basics, and help you master levitation. Nothing more, nothing less. The rest will be up to you to discover.”

The darker Unicorn smiled; he was rather gleeful at the news. Magic. True magic, unlike the ones on Sol-3. All within his grasp. Oh, he was going to have fun. 





Time Skip





It was difficult. He was attempting to lift a mere pebble, yet it was incredibly difficult. Starswirl couldn’t describe how to utilise levitation magic. He had used it all of his life. A Unicorn naturally learned how to levitate objects at an early stage within their lifetime, before they could make independent decision in fact. There had never been a case where a Unicorn failed to cast even a simple spell unless their horn was severely damaged.

Starswirl was so used to using basic magic, seeing all of his comrades able to do as such, that he never thought he would have to teach it. By the time a Unicorn colt or filly was at the right age to be taught magic, they would’ve already mastered the basics. Describing it to somepony who had no idea about its mechanics was… impossible.

But this Unicorn. This charcoal pelted Unicorn was different. He wasn’t naturally attuned to magic. The more Starswirl watched, the more he realised what the Unicorn said earlier might’ve been the truth.

Then, a development. A white orb wrapped itself around the pebble, slowly, and oh so agonisingly slowly, the orb lifted the pebble slightly above the ground. Starswirl lifted his head, and what he saw was the Peregrine Unicorn’s horn ablaze with a white flame. His eyes were the most peculiar part. Glowing. They were like pearls. Sharp, instead of smooth. The longer the two Unicorns lingered, the higher the pebble floated. Until it was at the level of their eyes.

The ashen Unicorn felt joy. He wanted to prance around the Everfree. He savoured the moment as much as possible. This was magic displayed before him. He was going to reject everything he knew before. Magic was possible, and he had done it. Truly a spectacle.

However, this was only the first step. He attempted to throw the pebble, shooting it across the clearing here near the centre of the Everfree. There was a thud as it impacted one of the still standing trees. It wasn’t a particularly loud thud, but it was progress.

Then came the applauding of Starswirl, who had a mischievous grin. “Do it all again. Over and over, until you’ve properly mastered it.” He practically ordered it to be done. This very tactic he had used on one of his colleagues, no, friends, Clover, or as many dubbed, ‘Clover the Clever’ for his exploits in magic. Starswirl was more of a tutor to Clover than friend, but over time, they had developed a bond. This reminded Starswirl of his original task coming here. He was surveying the forest for Unicornia and its Princess, Platinum.

Funny, the politics of these times. Unicornia was in a cold war with its neighbours for control over this rich land. Free from the grasp of winter. At least, so far. Winter in fact hadn’t bothered the races of Ponies for months now. In this time, townships had been founded. The capital, Canterville had flourished due to this freedom. The vast Everfree was ripe, and he was sent here to discover its delicacies.

The Crystalline Tree was the latest he had found. And it was the single most anomalous. He couldn’t wrap his mind around its unique properties. The magic it emanated was unheard of. Unseen by Unicorn kind. And this unknown Unicorn he had spoken to, his signature was that of the tree’s. He was the one that exerted all of the dark energy the day before. He had to be careful around him.

Before Starswirl realised, the Unicorn had already lifted a boulder during the time he distracted himself with thought.

“This is a lot easier than I thought.”





Time Skip





The two Unicorns were now standing beside the Everfree’s river. The outlander attempted to levitate a living creature. Prey in the waters. So much prey. The water itself was pristine. It was clear enough for them to see through it, to see the marine life that inhabited it. One squirmed in the ashen Unicorn’s grasp, but its struggles were in vain. With one swift movement, the fish was lifted into his hooves, where he crushed it and smiled in delight. Food, finally. He could almost break out into song. Almost. He wasn’t going to.

He caught more and more, honing his skills on levitation. Afterwards, he prepared his meal. Finally. Then, the two Unicorns created a miniature encampment, preparing to rest as the sun began its descent. What a day it had been.

As he felt himself fade into unconsciousness, lying against his own fur for comfort, he saw the darkness creeping into his vision. Then, a different world entirely. White everywhere. An explosion of colour followed suit. It was a bitter chill than crawled down his spine as the colour soon faded, leaving a whiteness all around. 

Then, a silhouette of a Unicorn appeared. He prowled the mind, where he trots, mist followed. Following him also was an aura, indescribable in nature. Then, the crystalline tree once more appeared, although briefly. A maniacal laughter came soon after.

This was a nightmare. The field of battle once more showed itself. The sea of crimson. Armour plates littered across the land, as far as the eye could see. In the distance, a castle upon a cliff edge. He felt a cold sensation within his chest. A weapon protruding from it. As quickly as it came, the scene disappeared from his mind. What came next was the very same castle. An army besieging it, its defenders stubbornly refusing to capitulate. He was watching the battle from the skies. Before him, a figure of pure light, a scowl plastered across his face.

He couldn’t move his own body throughout all of this. Merely observe. Then, he could hear rainfall and yelling. Was that… Starswirl’s voice? And somebody else was here too. The dream-like world dissipated into dust, and he snapped his eyes open. Charging towards him was an Earth pony clad in mail and wielding a spear. The Unicorn was given no time to think, instead instinctively unleashing a bolt of magic. Dark magic.

The large Earth stallion took the impact full-force and collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony. The Unicorn had no time to review his work, as yet another Earth pony lunged towards him, letting out a blood-curdling war cry. 

Then, a bolt of grey magic seared the Earth pony’s side, his surprised attitude and thrashing was enough distraction for the ashen Unicorn to assess his situation. It was the dead of night. Four Earth ponies had ambushed their encampment. Three temporarily incapacitated, one left standing. The last clearly being the leader, equipped with the finest armour and weaponry of this time.

At that moment, the leader had rose a hoof. Rustling came from the woodland surrounding them. Out of the shadows came more of the Earth ponies. Both Unicorns were now back-to-back, simultaneously igniting their horns. Then, the signal to strike was given, and the overwhelming onslaught of Earth ponies charged.

Starswirl almost immediately unleashed a burst of light, blinding multiple targets. Unfortunately, it seemed to only mildly annoy the rest, as they continued their assault. The light grey Unicorn followed his spell with a shield surrounding both him and his companion.

Slowly looking around, the ashen Unicorn realised his major disadvantage. Turning his head, both he and Starswirl nodded, acknowledging their limits. They couldn’t possibly face all of these Earth ponies, so they had to flee.

As Starswirl’s shield dissipated, the light grey Unicorn unleashing several blasts of magic and the two bolted in one direction, Canterville. To their dismay, the Earth ponies’ pursuit continued. Even the cover of night failed to deter them. Then, the Peregrine Unicorn collapsed onto the muddy floor, tripping over himself. His pursuers all focused on him as he unsuccessfully attempted to crawl away. 

Starswirl could do little but watch as his travelling companion was dragged into the trees, his cries of terror echoed through the forest. The light grey Unicorn could see no alternative, but to continue back to Canterville lest he invoked the wrath of the Earth ponies that inhabited this forest. He could only hope for the best.





Time Skip





Birds sung their melodies. Fauna awoke to the radiant light of the morning sun. The gentle breeze brushed the vast woodland of the Everfree. Rain continued to fall. The sound, it stirred the ashen Unicorn from his slumber. It was cold. So cold. The scent of iron… no. Blood. He could smell it. Opening his eyes, what he saw terrified him. His body was bloodied and battered. He was laying against a tree. Still the damned forest.

Glancing around, he saw more trees. No signs of Starswirl, yet no signs of the Earth ponies. Lazily dragging a limb forward, he found himself overwhelmed with fatigue. No. This felt… different. It felt similar to magic. Did he exhaust his magic? Was this what it felt like?

He slowly dragged his entire body forth, despite the pain that came with it. As he triumphantly stood back up, cries of pain and terror echoed through his mind. Flashes of that… thing… the tree again, and him.

Staying wasn’t an option. He needed to find help. Starswirl abandoned him, so that light grey Unicorn was of no use. Once more, loneliness. That freedom he felt, it was terrible, he despised it.

Yet another cry of terror, this time from nearby. Some abhorrent thought dictated him to investigate. Perhaps it was those damnable Earth ponies once more. Cautiously, he approached the source of the sound. And what he witnessed was flame. So much fire. It was mesmerising. Wooden palisades surrounded the pillars of smoke and flame, indicating a possible encampment.

Taller trees grew around this area of the Everfree. It made sense why one would establish their base of operations here. It was becoming rather bitter in this area, however well covered it was. The first signs of snowfall.

As the ashen Unicorn approached the palisade walls, he discovered the entrance to the encampment. Inside was a gut-wrenching sight. That, that would be lightly describing it. Truth be told, there was gore everywhere. Like the site of a psychotic murderer, whose sadistic tendencies compelled them to go further than merely killing their victim. Some were even impaled upon jagged wooden stakes and spears. Perhaps a little inspiration from Vlad the Impaler.

He recognised some of these ponies. His kidnappers. Some still clad in their battered iron. Others, simply torn to pieces. He simply couldn’t take it anymore. He vomited all over the floor, shaking his head in disgust.

Then came a voice. Nay, a cry for help. The wail of someone in excruciating agony. The Unicorn searched for the owner of the voice, and found a rather young Earth pony. One he also recognised as apart of the ambush. Said pony was horrified at his sight, attempting to scramble as the ashen coated Unicorn approached.

As the Unicorn tilted his head in confusion, raising an eyebrow, he noticed mist at his hooves. A darkness seemingly overtaking him. His coat turned a charcoal. His eyes turned pure white, a faint glow accompanying them. It felt nauseating. His vision blurred; his hearing dulled. The last glimpse of the world was of a terrified Earth pony.

“It seems like I missed one.” He muttered to himself. But that wasn’t him, not completely. As he approached the cowering pony before him, the now charcoal Unicorn leaned down and asked a simple question.

“Where are we?”

The Earth pony was petrified, so much so he couldn’t even utter a single word.

“A simple question, a simple answer. Do as you are told. Where. Are. We?”

No answer came from the smaller Earth pony, who opted to squirm even further, despite a hoof now pinning him down.

Then, the hoof relaxed, letting go of him, allowing the terrified pony a little breathing space and calming him down only slightly. Deciding that the Earth pony had been granted enough time, the charcoal Unicorn once more pressed down onto him. “Go on, speak.”

“U-Unicornia… Sir…” Meekly answered the pinned Earth pony, who received a slap.

“Let’s be a little more specific, shall we? What is this forest called?” 

The Earth pony raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. “Everfree…?” And to his relief, the answer was received positively, and his oppressor nodded his head. The hoof was lifted and planted onto the muddy floor once more.

As the Earth pony scrambled to his hooves, he was suddenly halted in his place. “I like that fear. It is… soothing to the mind. Ironic. Fear me.” 

He attempted to squirm once more, this time in the iron grip of Unicorn magic. “W-what?” 

A chuckle came from the Unicorn. “I have some more questions to ask, if you do not mind of course.” A slow nod came from the other pony, whom had to bide his time.

“Your group here, you seemed to be committing some rather heinous acts. Kidnapping me? A Unicorn who could so easily crush your innards? Bold.”

“You bastard!” The Earth pony suddenly cried, expression that of a scowl and lunging at him. “You Unicorns are truly despicable! Taking our food that we had earned through hardship and labour! You forced us from our homes, and now you say we were bad? Our group were barely surviving as it is, whilst you lived in your castles, lounging back as we toiled in the dirt!”

The Unicorn, back stepping had noticed the fall of snow increasing in rate. “Stop,” He commanded, which wasn’t obeyed by the furious Earth pony. “Enough. You imbecile, you will get us killed!” Raising his voice and lighting his horn, he suspended the rampaging Earth pony in magic. Lightly panting as he recovered from the assault.

As the pony calmed, expression now that of fear at his inability to move, the wind too calmed, the snow calmed too. The Unicorn could hear an ethereal song from the heavens. Then, it ended. Sneering, he circled the incapacitated Earth pony.

“You’ve just written your own epitaph.” 





Time Skip





Starswirl charged into the main chamber of Canterville Castle, a finely decorated palace filled with tapestries and sculptures. There, sitting on the illustrious throne was Princess Platinum of Unicornia. First of her name. Inheritor of the Kingdom of Unicornia from her father, whom resided in old Uncornia still.

The Princess was understandably perplexed by the urgent attitude of Starswirl, never before seeing the magic-enthusiast so out of breath.

Kneeling before his monarch, Starswirl hurriedly informed the Princess of bandits residing within the Everfree and their possible location. He was granted the response he desired the most. Guards assembled in the main chamber, leading them was the Captain alongside Starswirl’s colleague, Clover.

Clover volunteered to follow not for facing an army of bandits, but rather for scientific research. The guard heading out to the Everfree was perfect protection from swarms of bandits and predators in the unpredictable forest.

Starswirl wouldn’t admit to the true reason why he requested the guard. He hoped the Peregrine Unicorn was still alive. It would be his fault for the death of a Unicorn after all… But also… that Unicorn contained magic never before seen. He was a living anomaly, and possibly a dangerous one if truly agitated.

He had seen what that Unicorn could do. That bolt of magic, it was an uncontrolled mere speck of magic unleashed. One could only imagine what would happen if he had true control over his magic. Of the tree’s magic. That damnable tree. Starswirl was snapped out of his thought once more by his comrades, as he was quite literally standing in one place whilst the guards prepared to leave. 





Time Skip





The rattle of the guard’s mail hauberks startled the local fauna of the Everfree. Beyond the paved roads of villages around the woodland was dense flora. The Captain led his soldiers through the foliage, every step cautious, every pony was vigilant.

Far behind, was Starswirl, silently stalking the ensemble of Unicornian warriors. Clover knew he was following. Clover always knew. He snuck behind the rest to meet with his colleague. The two shared some banter with each other, snickering behind the armoured guards, before Clover asked the question.

“What was the real reason you sent us here? It wasn’t just bandits, that was clear from your expression. You lost something, didn’t you? And that cart of yours.” He narrowed his eyes inquisitively.

“I… yes, I lost my cart. Some important discoveries too.” He admitted, though not fully.

Clover’s ears perked, a grin appearing on his face. “Let’s find it then, can’t let important notes go to waste!” He declared, dragging his robed comrade, who almost comically yelled, before being silenced by a hoof.

They continued through the forest, Starswirl in the lead to find his lost possessions. Through it all, he couldn’t stop thinking of the tree. Of its properties. It was intoxicating. Perhaps a little too much- No. No, it could help improve the Kingdom and help it prosper. As they pranced through the foliage, they discovered a rather gruesome sight. A pack of wolves, deceased. Traces of magic littered the site. Traces which Starswirl recognised as the Tree’s.

What he saw next was a trail of mist. Deciding it was best to avoid it, Starswirl pried his companion away from the corpse site, continuing on his journey to the riverside where his cart was located. Once the two Unicorns had arrived, they found the overturned cart, mostly empty besides the stacks of papers and books. Clover almost instantly hounded the notes, excitedly scanning through every page to see his colleague’s discoveries.

Starswirl could hear the studious pony muttering, ‘tree’, ‘unicorn’ and ‘dangerous’. His eyes widened upon hearing ‘unicorn’, quickly scrambling over to his precious notes and snatching them away from Clover.

Dark clouds blanketed the skies. Rainwater cascaded down towards them. Mist began to surround them. Both Unicorns snapped from their child-like petulance and stood vigilant, no mere magical anomaly could scare them. After some moments, the mist seemed to pass them by, heading towards one direction. Starswirl blinked. The mist, once more harboured the magic of the tree.

Clover was intrigued, eyes intently following the mist. It seemed to head towards a cave in the distance. Starswirl’s notes contained a small sketch of the entrance and tree itself. The shroud was heading towards the tree, and he would follow despite the pleadings of his companion. Knowledge is power.





Time Skip





“Unique.” That was what he had to say for the Tree of Harmony. It looked rather exotic in real life. In truth, he admired it. Never in ‘his’ life had he seen something so perfect. Placing a hoof onto the tree, nothing happened. He saw nothing. He heard only the ambience of the cave. It was the sensation. Ineffable.

For a mere moment. He saw his reflection change. Half of him, ashen grey, eye a dark brown. The other, charcoal, eye pure white and glowing. His mane flowed wildly on one side, whilst it kept still on the other. Then, the brown eyes turned white, the ashen grey turned charcoal. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, instinctively clutching it with one hoof. His breathing quickened, eyes widening.

Stepping backwards, he collapsed onto the floor. A chip of the Crystalline tree seemingly detached itself, falling before him. The chip, once a cerulean had turned silvery. Pieces of metal seemingly materialised before him, and he grinned.

Lifting them in his magic, he moulded them into a crown-shape. A slot was left for the crystal. The charcoal Unicorn inspected his piece of regalia. Placing the crystal in, he donned the crown. Suddenly, he collapsed onto the floor and writhing in excruciating pain. Mist billowed from his pelt, bursts of magic shot from his horn.

He hissed in agony, until everything became dark.  





Time Skip





The Captain of the Guard, Sturdy Shield, had lost one of the most valuable ponies in Unicornian history. He was frantic. His soldiers had discovered the camp, and the damage to their moral was great. Somebody had arrived here first, and clearly it wasn’t a wild beast or trained army. The brutality on display was beyond anything they had witnessed before.

They had searched the camp. Every tiny detail. The most obvious detail however, was the large trace of a twisted magic. It was genuinely vile; one guard swore he heard whispers from… somewhere. Shield cared little for some whispers. He was more concerned of the whereabouts of the mysterious Unicorn whom harboured the dark magic.

Then, one of his soldiers discovered a trail of mist laced with the traces of dark magic. Gritting his teeth, he ordered his Unicornian guards to investigate. Though, he wasn’t exactly optimistic for results.





Time Skip





 Shaking his head, the charcoal Unicorn stood back onto his hooves. What he had seen. It was truly… unique. Visions of the future flashed in his mind. Standing before him, two ineffable beings, clad in armour. The Crystalline Tree, glowing with a palette of colour. Castles burning before his eyes, and he felt like grinning. Yes, let them suffer. Let them all suffer. 

He felt his phantom pain dull. The pain which persistently consumed his mind. He felt a craving for magic too. Let them fear me… Yes… Let them fear me… Perhaps, a name would be in good order, hm?

He pondered, his expression twisting into that of a smirk. Chaos. Of Greek origin. Such a simple meaning. Such will make those little ponies terrified. And that, that shall further my goals. This damned pain first, it must go. It will go… eventually…

Standing up, he turned to face the cave entrance, and he burst into laughter.