//------------------------------// // The Predators of the Night, Part I – The Alpha // Story: The Taking of Tartarus // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// The Lord of Chaos was in his room in Tartarus, sitting on his throne, trying to think in a new plan. After the failure with the Krylock, he had to come up with a better plan. He had to choose a better villain. It was then that the door to his room opened and Fire Punch came in, cautiously, saying: "Master, I…" "Shut up, you idiot" the Lord of Chaos answered sharply. "Can't you see I'm thinking?" "I'm so sorry, your lordship" Fire Punch said, bowing his head respectfully. "But I was wondering, since you have nothing to me, I could go for a brief walk around the exterior. It’s almost dark and, tonight, it's full moon and I like make walks on a night like this to clear my head. " When he listened what Fire Punch had just said, the Lord of Chaos lifted his head. An idea began to form in his head. Seeing the Lord of Chaos was staring at him, Fire Punch asked: "Is something wrong, sir?" "What did you say?" the Lord of Chaos asked to his subordinate. "Uh, I asked you how you were..." Fire Punch started. "No, idiot! About the moon." "Well, I said the moon would be round tonight and…" But the Lord of Chaos, raised his hand, causing Fire Pinch to shut up, and adopted his thoughtful air. "Sir, did I say something wrong?" Fire Punch asked. "No, my dear Fire Punch" the Lord of Chaos replied. "Actually, you gave me a great idea." "I am very happy to hear that, master" Fire Punch said, happy. "Does that means I can go out and…" "Don't push your luck" the Lord of Chaos answered him. That made Fire Punch stay quiet again. Leaning against his chair, the Lord of Chaos made a gesture, making one of his mirrors appear and then the image of a stallion earth pony appeared. He was very attractive, having the same size as Shining and Blue. He had a dark moderate red coat, a very dark desaturated red mane, slightly desaturated orange coatless hooves and golden eyes. His Cutie Mark was a full moon behind three small clouds. "Yes, my lord?" he asked, making a bow. "Hello, Shadow Claw, how are you?" the Lord of Chaos asked. "Better now that I'm free and not in my cell" Shadow Claw replied. "All because of you." "Fire Punch, let me introduce you Shadow Claw, one of your fellow villains" the Lord of Chaos said. "Uh, hello, it's a pleasure to..." Fire Punch started saying to Shadow Claw. But he simply made a canine growl to Fire Punch that made him stop and say: "Okay..." Shadow Claw turned to the Lord of Chaos and asked him, making a bow: "What do you want, my master?" "I need you for my new plan. Bearing in mind that tonight the moon is round, your skills will be useful." "Yes" Shadow Claw answered. "What do you want me to do?" "Something that will certainly spread the chaos" the Lord of Chaos replied "And, at the same time, you may have the opportunity to take revenge against who arrested you." That made a naughty smile appear on Shadow Claw’s face. He said: "It seems excellent to me." It was full moon night in Hollow Shades. Thunder Night was wandering around in the dark forest, enjoying his night off. With him was one of his thestral friends. Both had been talking about the big event that was going to happen. "Do you really go see the Summer Sun Celebration?" Thunder Night’s friend asked. "Yes, Fluttershy invited me" he replied. "And Princess Luna gave me these nights off, so…" "Yes, but, man, you know what the Sun does to us." "Don't worry. I can handle a little sun. This is not the first time that I'm a long time under it. Besides Fluttershy will introduce me to her friends." "I still can't believe you two are dating for almost a year and she hasn't introduced you to her friends" Thunder Night’s friend said. "Fluttershy is very shy and reserved" Thunder Night replied. "Besides that, with the problems that happened with the return of the Light Kingdom and Princess Twilight now living there, she has been putting off." It was then that they heard a scream coming from a certain distance. "But what was that?" Thunder Night’s friend asked. "Somepony needs help" Thunder Night said. And then he and his friend went rescue the pony who needed help. When they arrived, they were shocked with what they saw. One of the ponies who lived in the village of Hollow Shades was lying on the ground, unconscious, with bites on his body. At his side, were two ponies and a thestral, both Thunder Night’s acquaintances, but they were different. Their ears were pointy and wider, and the thestral’s tail was now covered by fur. Their hooves were missing and now they were feet with sharp claws and the teeth were razor-sharp now. They eyes had now a yellow iris with narrow pupils and the sclera was black. "But what the hell..." Thunder Night’s friend started. They then turned to the two of them and started snarling them. "I think they are not recognizing us" Thunder Night’s friend said. "But what happened to them?" Thunder Night asked. "I happened to them" a voice said. The two looked at each other and then are faced with Shadow Claw, being that he had the same look as the other three, although much more intimidating. "Who are you?" Thunder Night asked. "My name doesn't matter" Shadow Claw answered. "What really matters is that you're going to call me your leader." "Yes, sure" Thunder Night said ironically. "Don’t you believe?" Shadow Claw asked. "Your friends also didn't believe me until I made them think in a different way." "What did you do with them?!" Thunder Night asked. "What I’ll go to do with you" Shadow Claw replied. "I'll give you a new life. Watch how this pony joins my pack." He gestured to the pony lying on the ground. It was then that the full moon came out from behind the clouds and lit up everything it could reach, including the pony. It was then that his body began to change, starting to look exactly like the others, while his wounds healed. His yellow eyes opened and he stood up, starting then howling. The others followed his example. Thunder Night and his friend were astounded by what they had just seen. "Now, it's time for your conversion" Shadow Claw told to Thunder Night and his friend. "Attack!" And the turned ponies and the thestral started running in Thunder Night and his friend’s direction. "Run!" Thunder Night exclaimed. The two started running as fast as they could, but it seemed that they weren't able to distance themselves from the more they ran, most they tired, but the creatures didn’t seem to be tiring. Thunder Night’s friend, so tired he was, began to slow down, which was fatal, because the creatures that were once their friends, got him. Realizing that, Night Thunder tried to help him, but Shadow Claw appeared in front of him with an amazing speed, saying while the caught thestral was being bitten: "Your friend is mine now. There's nothing you can do." Thunder Night looked and then he saw with horror his friend becoming the same kind of creature than the others. "But don't worry" Shadow Claw continued. "You will join him soon." Knowing he couldn't do anything about the turned ponies and thestrals, Thunder Night continued to flee. Shadow Claw smiled and he and his monsters followed him. While he ran, Thunder Night realized he had to go ask for help. He couldn't go to the village because it would only put the others in danger, so he realized it could only go out of Hollow Shades. He ran to the edge of the forest and, upon arriving there, he saw that the sun was starting to rise up. He got out of the forest, being hit by the sunbeams and feeling the painful effect that they caused. When Shadow Claw and his followers arrived at the end of Hollow Shades, they stopped when they saw the Sun rising up. Thunder Night dared to take a peek back and then saw, to great amazement, that, when the Sun barely touched them, they came back to normal, including Shadow Claw. For a moment, he thought his friends were coming back to normal, but they remained alongside Shadow Claw, as if they were in a trance state. He knew his thestral friends wouldn't follow him under the Sun and it seemed that Shadow Claw was not able to follow that way. Thunder Night then opened his wings and flew as far as possible. In the Light Kingdom, Twilight was sitting on her throne with Blue by her side, while Mirror Coat and Golden Paladin were at the end of the stairs to the throne. The General of Peace had been explaining how had obtained the objects to arrest the villains. After explaining how he did it, he tried to explain how they worked. "Every life cell can contain one and only one villain" he said, showing some life cells. "They can adapt to the villain which hold in order to disable any form of escape, in the same way that the cells of Tartarus work." "And how does the cell blaster work?" Blue asked. "Well, the cell blaster serves to accomplish the capture and, of course, we need to put the cell on the front tip" Golden Paladin replied, invoking the object. "For that, you need to load the cell blaster with magic, something that can only be done by me, Princess Twilight and the other Generals of Order. In the hooves of another pony will be useless. Is a way to limit the users to the Lord of Chaos can’t stop us." "And after capturing the villain, we arrest it in that book, right?" Mirror Coat asked. "Yes" Golden Paladin said, calling the prison-book and grabbing it with his hooves. "It has an unlimited number of pages that are used to trap the villains." He opened a specific part where one of the pages was a cell with iron bars where there was the Krylock. It seemed to be a kind of window, because they could see the Krylock moving from one side to the other in the cell. On the aside page was the identification of the creature. "It is a way to keep them captive until we recover Tartarus" Golden Paladin continued. "It can withstand the power of any life cell." "Doesn't sound very difficult" Blue commented. "We just have to find the bad guys and then we use the cell blaster to arrest them." "It won't be so easy, Prince Blue Sword" Golden Paladin said, while making the summoned objects disappear. "For starters, most of the villains are not like the regular ones. They are evil and intelligent beings, perhaps more than the enemies you've ever faced. And now they have their master’s help, so the task will be even more complicated. In addition, it is necessary to weaken the villain in order to be easier to absorb them into the life cell." "For more powerful a weapon is, there are always setbacks attached with it" Mirror Coat commented. "Golden Paladin, where will you put the life cells, the prison-book and the cell blaster?" Twilight asked. "In a vault placed in the deepest part of the dungeons, immune to any access from the inside or from the outside without being with magic from an order servant, namely mine, yours, Princess, and of my siblings’" Golden Paladin explained. "Wait, we have dungeons?" Blue asked, not wanting to believe. "They are underneath the kingdom” Mirror Coat answered. "They were used prior to the creation of Tartarus. Since then, they were no longer necessary and the ponies ended up forgetting its existence, except us, of course. " "I also put Cerberus guarding the vault" Golden Paladin added. "Don’t worry, Princess Twilight, because Melody and I assure you that, in that hallway, no music will be heard, not even hers." "I trust you, Golden Paladin" Twilight said. It was then that the same alarm that rang when Krylock attacked Ponyville played again, although with less intensity than last time (Heartbeat had corrected taht part of her spell). "The alarm" Twilight said. "There is a villain activity. On top near the Summer Sun Celebration." "Take it easy, Twily" Blue said. "It could be a coincidence. We don't know if Ponyville will be attacked again." "You're right, but, nevertheless, it is my duty…" Twilight started. "Don't worry, Princess" Golden Paladin said. "We will discover what it is and we'll try to work things out." "Yes, let's go watch the celebration" Mirror Coat said. "After all, we're the General of Peace and the General of Knowledge." Although Twilight was still apprehensive with everything, she eventually accepted, waving. The two generals then turned, while Mirror Coat invoked one of his mirror portals and the two passed through it. "Well, we better get packing to go to Ponyville" Blue said. "You're right" Twilight answered. "There's so much to organize. I can't believe that Princess Celestia has put me in charge of the celebration organization." "She knows how much you love to have an excuse to go to Ponyville" Blue said. "Which is good, because, after the celebration be organized, we can have fun as a normal family: you, me and Star." That made Twilight smile and say: "Yes, you're right." In Ponyville, the sun was already high. Fluttershy was in the middle of her task to feed her animals. "Alright, little ones" she said to a few birds, while she put food into their houses. "Here's your food." The birds were soon eating and then Fluttershy put on the ground bowls full of a lot variety of food. "You can also come eat too" she said to the other animals, which started eating, even Angel ate his food, passing to appreciate better the vegetables. Fluttershy observed them eating satisfied. It was then that somepony knocked heavily at the door, something that made the yellow pegasus startle. Hesitant, she approached the door and slowly stretched the hoof to the doorknob and pulled it, opening the door. She was shocked when she faced with Thunder Night lying on the ground barely conscious, full of wounds and completely exhausted. "Thunder Night!" she exclaimed, crouching to stay at the same level as him. Thunder Night then raised his gaze to Fluttershy and told her with a smile: "I’m glad to see you. I thought I couldn't get here in time." "Thundy, you have been flying again during the day" Fluttershy said, helping Thunder Night to get in, repairing the burns he had through his body. "And it was for a long time, as far as I can see. What was wrong with you?" "Believe me, I didn't want to do it" Thunder Night replied, moaning slightly due to the pain he felt, while Fluttershy helped him lay down on the couch. "I had to run away from Hollow Shades." "Run away?" Fluttershy repeated, while she was in a rush to close all the curtains, so that the room could be dark enough for Thunder Night. "What happened?" Thunder Night took a few seconds to answer, due to his injuries, but then he said: "You won't believe what happened?" But before he could say anything else, he fainted. "Thunder Night!" Fluttershy called, extremely worried about her coltfriend’s health. She led her hoof to his forehead and she saw that he was burning with fever. Shadow Claw came to Ponyville via train, going to the village, and started to see the ponies preparing things for the long-awaited Summer Sun Celebration. The stage with the statues of the Sun and the Moon was already ready. Seeing all that, Shadow Claw felt a frenzied anger appearing. But he managed to control himself, remembering the important mission that the Lord of Chaos had given him. During the conversation between Shadow Claw and the Lord of Chaos... "What's on your mind, master?" Shadow Claw asked. "The Summer Sun Celebration will be on the third night of this full moon week" the Lord of Chaos said. "It's the perfect opportunity for your revenge against Celestia, the one that put you in a cell in Tartarus for centuries." Shadow Claw's face twitched with rage and then he asked: "What do you want me to do?" "I want you to make a pack of pony-wolves and then to kidnap Celestia before she lifts the Sun" the Lord of Chaos replied. "It is crucial to do it in that moment." "What do you want me to do to her?" Shadow Claw asked. "Whatever you want" the Lord of Chaos replied, making a naughty smile appear on Shadow Claw’s face. "But make sure she does not escape nor be able to use magic. So the Sun won’t be able to rise up and all the world will be plunged into an eternal night, an eternal full moon night." "And Princess Luna?" Shadow Claw asked. "She can't control the Moon. And there is also the other princesses, and one of them is the Princess of the Light Kingdom." "You don't have to worry about her, about both of them" the Lord of Chaos replied. "I know exactly what to do." Shadow Claw was ready to crank his master's plan. With his ponie-wolves ready to convert more ponies in the next night, he would have an army to be able to capture Princess Celestia. However, he had to study the ground well and ensure that everything was fine. He looked around. All the ponies were immensely busy trying to prepare the Summer Sun Celebration, but were also quite excited, maybe due to the fact that the four alicorn princesses would occupy the event. It was then that his eyes found a mare that he found truly interesting. It was Rarity who was heading to her shop, carrying bags full of fabric. She could take a few of them with her magic, but she had to take the others on her back, something that looked like she was not enjoying it at all. Shadow Claw made a smile. He could be on a mission, but why shouldn't he entertain himself a little while waiting for the Summer Sun Celebration night? Especially with a very beautiful mare. "I can't believe my luck" Rarity said, while she was trying to keep the bags over her back balanced. "I have nopony to help me take the bags and I have a lot to do with the decor. Of course Applejack and Fluttershy are busy with their chores for the celebration and Pinkie Pie's out there being... herself. But Rainbow Dash could give me a hoof, since she just has to keep the sky clear, but no, the lazy girl has to rest on top of a cloud..." But it was then that she tripped lightly, making her drop the bags that were on top of the back. "Good, it was just what I needed" Rarity mumbled. She prepared to pick up the bags, when some hooves caught them first and raised up. "Here you go, miss" a deep and smooth voice said. Rarity looked and then faced Shadow Claw. How she didn't know who he really was, she didn't hide her reaction on meeting a stallion so handsome as Shadow Claw. What she particularly loved in him were the deep eyes and his energetic and seductive smile that made her smile, too, although embarrassingly. "Oh... thank you very much" Rarity thanked, as she prepared to receive them. "No way" Shadow Claw said. "A young and beautiful mare like you can't carry that much weight." "Oh, thank you" Rarity thanked again, blushing slightly. "You are a true gentlecolt." "Please, is part of the rules of good manners" Shadow Claw answered. "I can't let you hurt your beautiful hooves." And he then took one of Rarity’s hooves and kissed it, making her give giggles. "My name is Shadow Claw" the pony-wolf presented himself. "What's your name?" "R-Rarity" she stuttered. "Rarity..." Shadow Claw repeated, massaging Rarity’s hoof with his other hoof. "The name lives up to your beauty. You are a rare and beautiful flower amidst many other normal flowers." Rarity wanted to pass out, hearing all the praise that Shadow Claw was doing to her. "That's very nice of you, Mr. Shadow Claw" Rarity replied. "I’m just telling the truth" he replied. "Now, let me help you take these bags." Shadow Claw then took Rarity’s bags to Carousel Boutique. "Well, here we are" said Rarity, while she and Shadow Claw got in. "I know it's not very big, but at least it has a lot of style." "I agree" Shadow Claw answered, landing the bags. "Taking into account who lives here." That made Rarity give another giggle. "Mr. Shadow Claw, you’re very flattering" she said. "Please, Mr. makes things very formal" Shadow Claw said, approaching Rarity. "Just call me Shadow Claw." "Well, whatever you want… Shadow Claw" Rarity replied. The two looked at each other intensely. They then approached each other and, when they were in front of each other, their muzzles began approaching. It was then that... "Rarity, I'm home!" a voice said. The doorbell rang and Rarity distanced herself from Shadow Claw, going to her little sister who had just arrived. "Sweetie Belle, I thought you were going to Apple Bloom’s house" Rarity replied. "I was to go, but Apple Bloom had to go help her brother and sister because the Summer Sun Celebration" the filly replied. She then noticed Shadow Claw. “Who is he, sis?” Sweetie Belle asked. "My savior" Rarity replied. "He helped me bring the shopping bags." "I just did what anypony would done" Shadow Claw said. "Well, I think it's time to go." He took Rarity’s hoof and kissed it, causing her to blush and make a charmed smile. He then passed by Sweetie Belle who couldn't stop observing her. After he left, the filly said then to her older sister: "I don't like him." "Sweetie, don't be rude" Rarity said, using her magic to get what was in the bags and places it in its place. "Shadow Claw is a true gentlecolt." "He may be so, but I still don't like him at all" Sweetie Belle said. "I hope you're not planning to meet him again." And having said that, she went upstairs to go to the bedroom she occupied when she was in her sister's house. "Fillies..." Rarity said. Shadow Claw left Rarity’s boutique and advanced towards the outskirts of the village, where the Everfree Forest was. When he got there, he found a pony covered by a cloak waiting. He advanced to him, and when he got there, the pony said: "You're late." "Let's just say I had... a compromise" Shadow Claw replied. Then the pony took the hood of his cloak, revealing Fire Punch. "This is not the kind of walk that I was expecting, but at least I can be out of Tartarus and still do a favor to our master" Fire Punch said. "Enough talking, Fire Punch" Shadow Claw said gruffly. "Give me what you came to deliver me." “As you wish, little doggie” Fire Punch said, smiling. Fire Punch then took from his cloak a little ancient chest that Shadow Claw received. "Finally" he said, smiling. "With this, I will be able to regain the power I had once." "I hope you have lots of fun" Fire Punch said, putting the hood. "But don't forget to do what the master told you to do." And it was then that Fire Punch was involved in darkness and disappeared. "You don't have to worry about" Shadow Claw said. "My plan will succeed and not only will fulfill the Lord of Chaos’ will, as I will have also all what I wish." And he laughed.