//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The Masquerade // by Alpine~Dragon~Queen //------------------------------// Prologue. "Deep within the Everfree Forest there resides an ancient castle; withered, broken and covered in overgrowth. It was once the hiding place of the legendary Knightmare Moon, but with her removed from the picture and now residing in the royal castle this will be our new home. From here we will wreak a terrible havoc upon all the 'specials' in Equestria, starting with Ponyville…" A low and slightly deep female flowed softly from an elegant looking yellow mare as she stood before the Everfree castle with a smaller mare on each side of her. A slightly twisted laugh escaped her as she stared up at the moon from behind her black masquerade mask. The mare of a dark mint color to her right bowed slightly to her and flicked her tail. "Mother, what is it that you require of us?" There was silence as an icy zephyr blew by and ruffled the yellow mare's blue and green mane and the feathers upon her mask before a sickly sweet smile slipped over her mouth. "Capture this place for my rule then bring the head of the first special you see in Ponyville to me on a silver platter." "Yes, M'lady…" Both mares at her sides answered in unison before slipping into the shadows. The yellow mare leaned her head down until she was able to nose the two tiny ponies that lie sleeping between her front hooves. "Sleep well, my little ones. For tomorrow, you start the first great task of this grand and shinning plan…!" She let out a small distorted giggle, "Fore when time is right and the havoc is high, the oh so beautiful Celestia shall be ever so distraught and then that will be my time to strike. Without their 'precious' princess all the 'specials' of the land will thrown into true chaos and the beautiful retribution will soar to its highest!! Skahahaha!!" The mare's roaring, demented laughter rang throughout the entire Everfree Forest; making every living creature freezing terror at the new queen of the castle. ~Save~Me~ Applejack groaned and shifted her bed, using her hooves to clamp her pillow over her ears to try and block out Winona's barking. Sadly, it did little stop the dreadful sound. Frustrated, the blond pony sat up and threw the pillow at her dog who was barking at the door to their room. Normally, Applejack would never do this but the numbers on her alarm clock quickly reminded her that it was two-thirty in the morning. That outrageously early, even for people like farmers! "Winona! Now ya stop that barkin', girl. Yer gonna wake the whole farm! Winona!" Despite her master's call, the little herding dog didn't stop but simply barked louder and more rapidly. Sighing in defeat, Applejack grumpily crawled out of bed and stumbled towards the door. She figured that her dog simply had to go out and take care of some "business" but as she laid a hoof on the brass knob an ear-splitting screamed ripped through her open window. Applejack's eyes flew open in shock and she threw open the door, racing after her dog as the fluffy creature shot off towards the farmhouse door. Half way to the opening, Big Macintosh meet up with them; a single worried glance passed between the two before they quickly continued on their way. "You go that away, while Winona and I try over 'ere!" "Yup…." Both ponies quickly went on their separate ways as they desperately searched for the source of the scream. Fear was making Applejack's legs start to the shake as she ran around the farm yard. 'What the hay could 'ave happened!? Where did it come from?!' The poor pony's mind race when suddenly she spotted Winona barking and whimpering at large bush near the apple barrels. "Winona, what is it, girl. Ya find somethin'!?" The little dog only whimpered more and started to paw the ground in an uncomfortable fashion. Applejack finally reached her and instantly wished she hadn't. "Oh dear, god…!" The blond pony gagged and her hoof quickly flew to cover her mouth as her stomach began to churn and bile rose in her throat. "Big Macintosh, I found 'er! Ya'll better come real quick!" She yelled out once her stomach settled just enough to speak, "Er… What's left of 'er that is…" She heard the thundering sound of her brother's hooves raced over to her and skidded to halt. Once there, both were far to shocked and horrified to speak another words. All they could do was stare in shock at the little blue filly that lay slaughtered in a pool of its own blood, gushing out of what was left of its neck now that the head had been chopped off and stolen. If both ponies hadn't been stuck in their terrified and disgusted trance like state, they would have noticed the crazy laughter that was accompanied by a dark shadow galloping through the lovely trees of Sweet Apple Acres.