//------------------------------// // Thrack's Memories // Story: Sweetie Belle and the School of Shadows // by Blackdrag-rose //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle found herself floating in what seemed to be complete darkness. No matter which direction she looked Sweetie was greeted by blackness. She turned to her right and continued in that direction, looking for anything that might lead her out of her prison. Suddenly she stopped walking and looked at the strange mirror that she found in front of her. Images moved across the surface of the mirror, but what she was watching frightened her. It wasn’t Sweetie Belle doing quests with her fellow Crusaders, but the monster Thrack completing missions for her master Nightmare Moon. And as she tried to back away she quickly realized that three more mirrors appeared, trapping her in the center of the four. -The First Mirror- “Thrack,” Nightmare Moon, the evil alicorn that tried to take over Equestria, said to the young filly in front of her, “that will be your new name. You will serve me throughout the ages and do whatever I command, whenever I command it. You hate the mare known as Princess Celestia, the Solar Goddess as she chooses to call herself. You will serve, fight, and die in the name of Nightmare Moon, who is I. What do you say for yourself?” The young filly coughed and opened her eyes, revealing the deep blood red color. “I will obey,” the filly said, looking up into the eyes of Nightmare Moon, “I will take the name Thrack and do what is needed for you, Nightmare Moon, my Master, to destroy the one known as Celestia. What will you have me do first?” Nightmare Moon smiled, she was pleased that the filly was so eager to please her new master. “Simple,” she said, beckoning to the group of ten bound adult ponies, “Turn your parents and the parents of the other fallen fillies into your new brothers and sisters. Try to create five vamponies and five wereponies.” Thrack nodded and got up, advancing on the group of bound ponies as she licked her lips. Sweetie watched in horror as she bit the necks of the mothers, turning them into vamponies, and bit the front leg of the fathers, turning them into wereponies. The ten turned ponies stood before Nightmare Moon, their bindings broken, waiting at attention. “You ten will be the start of my grand army,” Nightmare Moon said, “You will aid in the creation of the army that will take down the tyrant known as Princess Celestia. Thrack, the pony standing next to me, will be my right hand mare, so if you cannot find me then find her. Vamponies, avoid the sunlight and travel during the night. Wereponies, hunt at night and turn whoever you please. You are given one week to turn as many ponies as you can before you return to this castle in the Everfree Forest. You are dismissed.” As the assembled ponies left the room Nightmare Moon turned to Thrack, who was waiting patiently for her to speak. “I have another task for you to complete,” she said, “Are you up to the task Thrack?” “Of course Master,” Thrack said, kneeling before the alicorn, “What will you have me do?” Nightmare smiled. “Simple,” she said, “I want you to infiltrate Canterlot and kill the Co-Captain of the Guard. His name is Red Star and he wears a set of dull silver armor, so keep an eye out for him. Maybe learn the guards plan while you’re at it.” “I will carry out your mission,” Thrack said, getting up and walking towards the door, “and the one called Red Star will be dead at my hooves.” “And keep an eye out for a red coated pony called Atar,” Nightmare called, “You’ll know him by his power. Do not get into a fight with him at all costs.” -The Darkness- “Please,” Sweetie cried, “I don’t want see anymore of Thrack’s memories. I’m not her. Please, stop showing me this madness.” Whatever was showing her the memories didn’t pay any heed to her words as the second mirror lit up to show her Canterlot, the version of it before the war between the Sister’s happened. -The Second Mirror- Canterlot’s walls provided a challenge for Thrack to get over, but nothing would stop her from completing her mission. She found her way to an outdoor guard station and quickly realized that it was empty of guards, but it had plenty of gear still in it. She grabbed a container of spears and pulled them to her spot near the wall, tossing the first one into the wall. After a couple of tries she managed to get it stuck between the stones and created several stepping places for her to climb on. A few minutes later she was on the other side of the wall, walking through the streets of Canterlot as she looked for the one called Red Star. As she searched she hid herself whenever the guards got close to her, hoping to overhear something important to her search. But even that didn’t seem to help until she heard one guard say something to his partner. “Captain Atar seems more pissed off than he usually is,” the left one said, the right one nodding, “I guess the fact that Reginald was chosen over him to be the Element of Loyalty bruised his ego or something. The Captain of the Guard, the most loyal pony in all of Canterlot, if not all of Equestria, not chosen to be Loyalty itself? I can see why he is so pissed off.” “I agree with you dude,” the other pony said, “but Red Star said that it will blow over in time and he’ll forget about the disappointment. Though I don’t know why Red Star spends so much time in the Royal Gardens. I guess he likes to stare at the statue of Discord whenever he has the time to do so.” Thrack smiled and unleashed a sleeping spell on the two guards, causing them to quickly collapse. Before she moved on she used a quick memory wipe spell to clear the guard’s minds so they would think they fell asleep on the job and not by a spell. Confident that her spells had worked Thrack moved on and found her way to the gardens, quietly passing ponies on her way. If a pony were to turn back and question the filly they would find themselves slowly drifting off to sleep. Soon she reached the gardens and began looking for the statue of Discord, who she had no idea what he looked like. Thrack figured that the statue had to be something strange for somepony to visit so many times. And sure enough she found a statue of a creature that seemed to be a mixture of some many races with an armored pony sitting before it. “Co-Captain of the Guard Red Star,” Thrack said, the pony sighing before turning around, “Am I correct?” “Yes you are,” the stallion said, surprised to find a filly behind him before facing the statue again, “What can I do for you today?” “You can start by dying peacefully,” Thrack said, quickly grabbing the stallion with her magic and trapping him in an orb designed to prevent noise from escaping, “Long live Nightmare Moon.” Red Star’s eyes widened at the mention of Nightmare Moon as the magic obliterated his heart an instant later. Thrack dropped the body and walked over to it, casting a memory spell on it. Slowly the corpse got up and almost looked like it was alive, but it was just reanimated to answer her questions. Even the eyes, once having a hint of light in them, were now dull and lifeless, making it easy for others to tell that Red Star was dead. “The layout of the guards,” Thrack said, “where do you keep it?” “The Guards Barracks,” the reanimated pony said, “We keep several copies there.” “How much will it take to meet the Captain of the Guard,” Thrack asked, “the one known as Atar?” “A serious threat to the Princess herself,” was the corpse’s reply. “Very well then,” Thrack said, “You will go into the Barracks and retrieve a copy of the guards’ layout. You will bring it back to me right here, in front of Discord’s statue. Once you have brought me the copy you will stay here until you get a chance to talk with this Atar. Tell him that he had better watch himself in the next few days. Once you have delivered my message you are free to leave this world behind and die at last. Do you understand?” “I understand,” the corpse said. “You are free to carry out my orders,” Thrack said, “and don’t keep me waiting Red Star.” An hour after the corpse left the gardens he returned baring a scroll that contained the layout of the Guards. Thrack smiled and took it from the dead guard, allowing him to basically turn to stone while he waited for Atar to arrive. Thrack then left the gardens and made her way out of Canterlot, barely able to keep herself from laughing when she heard citizens scream. They had found Red Star quicker than she had expected, but that barely mattered to her. -The Darkness- Sweetie rolled up into a ball to prevent herself from seeing what the mirrors wanted to show her, but it didn’t work. Even now she could see Thrack doing evil in whatever missions Nightmare Moon wanted her to do. Thrack enjoyed invading Canterlot and killing whoever the evil alicorn wanted dead. Sweetie didn’t want to see anymore, but the mirrors showed her more regardless of her own wishes. -The Third Mirror- Nightmare Moon had been pleased to hear the Co-Captain was dead and had quickly ordered Thrack to kill other key members within Canterlot. She, however, had been a little disappointed to learn that her right hand mare had threatened Atar himself. Her use of magic was better than her master could hope for and she taught her more after each kill. The very next day Thrack went back into Canterlot under a disguise that she concocted the previous night. It was designed to allow her to enter the city as a lost filly and find her way into the hooves of one pegasus by the name of Shadow Blitz. She was supposed to be the Captain of the Pegasus Division of the Royal Army and a key piece of the line of information. Needless to say that she found her way into the care of Shadow Blitz, who was a grey coated mare with silver hair. She seemed confused as to why there was a unicorn filly waiting for her, but gladly took her to her home. It was best for the Captain to take her home and figure out why she wanted to talk with her. Of course the two left the house not a few minutes later, but nopony seemed to notice the difference in the Captain’s eyes. Thrack led the pegasus out of the city and into a waiting carriage, which took them as close as they could to the Everfree Forest. The carriage was created by Thrack from the undead corpses of randomly slain ponies that choose not to serve Nightmare Moon. And the reason for keeping Shadow Blitz in the reanimated afterlife was to get the last bits of information out of her. Though Thrack hadn’t kept her word to Red Star and forced him to stay in his cursed state, neither alive nor dead. He was the first of Thrack’s own undead army and was, even now, slumbering somewhere in the Everfree Forest. Thrack, in her spare time, had designed a large network of catacombs, which was small since she wasn’t given much free time. Shadow Blitz would make an excellent addition to her army as her second commander. Nightmare Moon questioned the pegasus mare for what seemed like hours, allowing Thrack to leave for an hour. She learned much more about the plans Celestia had for her army and knew how to better improve her own. When Thrack returned she ordered her to dispose of the reanimated mare and return the following morning for her next assignment. Thrack took Shadow Blitz to the hidden catacombs and laid her into a slumber until she was needed again. -The scene shifted to the final mirror- -The Fourth Mirror- Thrack was standing outside Canterlot, waiting by her carriage. It was a few days after she gave Atar the threat and now she was waiting for him to come outside. Today she was supposed to kill a unicorn noble that went by the name of Lord Blackwood, somepony that was in control of the magical supplies for Celestia’s army. She had already done in the poor stallion, forcing him off the top of his tower and crashing him into the ground of Canterlot’s streets. It was designed to look like a suicide and from the looks of the ponies near the body it seemed like she was successful.She had attached a note to the stallion’s body to force Atar to show himself so she could attempt to fight him. Nightmare had known that Thrack would eventually try to end Atar before the war started, so she had been taught to better spells related to battle. Though after Atar discovered the body the stallion was supposed to reawaken and led Atar directly to Thrack. “So, you’re the mare I’ve been receiving threats from,” a voice said as a red stallion appeared next to her, unsurprised to find that she could stand on her hind legs without discomfort, “I was expecting Nightmare Moon herself and what I get is a filly? Please tell me this is a joke.” “I’m afraid not,” Thrack said, allowing the corpse of Blackwood to board the carriage, “I am the one known as Thrack, the monster that Celestia has likely told you and your guard all about. I have come here to fight and destroy you.” “Good luck with that my dear,” Atar laughed, his armor rattling just a bit, “I happen to possess quite a number of tricks and powers that have defeated many foes. Though I wonder what Nightmare Moon wants to gain from slaying the Elements of Harmony. She had you kill Red Star, Element of Laughter, Shadow Blitz, Element of Kindness, and Blackwood, Element of Generosity.” “Then they were weak for the Elements,” Thrack said, climbing into the carriage, “now come along. I haven’t got all day before I have to report back.” “Must you use the dead like this?” Atar asked, disgusted just by looking at the carriage drivers, “Can’t we just ride a normal carriage like all the other ponies do?” “No, we won’t,” Thrack said, “This way I can make sure that we are alone. If I so much as catch a whiff of any guards following us I will kill them and then reanimate them to serve me. Do I make myself clear?” “Crystal clear,” Atar said, climbing into the carriage and sitting across from Thrack. He tried not to gag himself when he looked at the reanimated Blackwood. Not a few minutes later the two stood in a clearing near Canterlot, the wind blowing through their manes. Thrack wasted no time attacking Atar, who raised a magical barrier to defend himself before drawing his spear. He relented and she prevented the spear from reaching her. Thrack tossed the spear away and their magic battered against each other, the land around them breaking under the pressure. The sky darkened and fires raged as the two engaged in a magic duel, the horns blazing with magic. Atar conjured his lance and advanced on Thrack, who continued to blast him with magic. The magic of Thrack and Atar destroyed the ground around them, shards of stone cutting them as they passed. Atar’s lance swung left and right as Thrack countered with shields before relenting. When it was over the two were still facing each other, but they were both bruised and cut multiple times. Neither of them wanted to expose their full power to the other and that left the two in a stalemate. Thrack and Atar laughed at each other and the magic faded away. “I think we’ll leave it at this,” Thrack said, healing her major wounds so she didn’t faint before returning to her master, “I look forward to fighting you again Atar. Even if I can’t kill you now there is always next time.” “Again, good luck with that,” Atar replied, likewise healing his major wounds, “but it would be nice to fight you again, as long as we don’t destroy as much as we did this time. I will have to tell Princess Celestia about your powers just so you know.” “And I with Nightmare,” Thrack said, turning to the carriage, “Be seeing you Atar.” Atar waved and the carriage departed, returning to the Everfree Forest and leaving the unicorn behind. He chuckled and returned to Canterlot, knowing that he had a lot of explaining to do when he got there. Thrack, on the other hoof, made her new reanimated corpse join the other two she had. The carriage went in as well, allowing the drivers to rest until she called on them. She had to report to her master and see what else she needed done. Of course Nightmare Moon was defeated and sealed away while her brothers and sisters were hunted like dogs. Those that were the toughest fighters Thrack reanimated into her army and hid them away, keeping them safe until they were needed. Any ponies she killed over the next thousand years were reanimated and added to her forces. She didn’t unleash them on Celestia when she confronted her nor did she use them when she returned to the Light Realm. Thrack had been planning on using them for something, but never did. -The Real World- Sweetie Belle, finally breaking out of her dreams, found herself in Twilight’s bed. She was sweating a little, which she knew was because of the dreams. She looked at the closed door and walked over, stopping when she heard voices on the other side. She tried to make them out, but whatever they were saying she couldn’t make out and that meant there was a spell in place that prevented ease dropping. The knob slowly began to turn, forcing Sweetie back towards the bed. The door burst open and a pony leapt on her, pinning her to the ground as a spear just barely rested above her heart. The spear was stopped by a yellow magical aura, preventing it from harming Sweetie Belle. When she looked up at the pony she immediately recognized who he was. “Atar?” she whispered, “Is that you?” “Yes,” was the stallion’s shocked reply, “Thrack? Is it truly you?” “No Atar,” said another voice as he was lifted off Sweetie Belle, “She is not the one known as Thrack, but Sweetie Belle. She was the Shadow of her, but reversed places so she could survive. Please, do not try to kill her.” Atar growled when he landed, putting the spear away as he turned to the ponies behind him. “Fine Celestia,” he said, backing away, “I won’t try to.” “Thank you,” the Solar Princess said, turning to Sweetie, “How much of the last few days do you remember?” “Not much,” Sweetie Belle said, shaking her head, “Wait. What do you mean by a few days? It was only yesterday that I, umm, lost control.” “Sweete,” a voice said, Rarity appearing behind the princess, “You’ve been asleep for six whole days. Tomorrow is the day you’re supposed to board the train for the School of Shadows.” “What did you see?” Luna asked, allowing the filly to walk into the filled room, “I tried to find out, but I think Thrack’s magic prevented me from entering your dreams.” Sweetie was surprised to find that her friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were still hanging around, considering what had happened. The Elements were gathered around the Princesses and Spike was somewhere near. Plus she noticed Reginald and Atar by a wall, Atar looking like he was hoping that she was Thrack to finish their fight. “I saw Thrack’s creation,” she slowly said, “and the ponies that Nightmare Moon ordered her to turn to her side. I witnessed her killing other ponies throughout Canterlot. And Thrack fighting Atar in a field to a stalemate, after which they both said that they would meet up again and finish what they started.” Sweetie couldn’t bear to tell them about the reanimated ponies that slumbered beneath the Everfree Forest. Something was preventing her from speaking about them and it didn’t sit well with her. She really felt that she should tell them about the army, but didn’t want to be carted off and separated from her friends. So she kept her mouth shut and waited for them to say something. “Sweetie Belle,” Princess Luna said, “I will make this short and sweet. In your current state you cannot control the powers of Thrack and will likely succumb to them again. Celestia and I have considered locking them away deep within you so they never resurface again, but we decided against it. You notice the silver shackles on your legs? They are there to keep the energy of Thrack at bay so you can learn to control yourself. In short you have no choice but to attend the School of Shadows and defeat your inner monster.”