Chapter 7: Preparations.
(AN: four ponies get intro'd. If you can guess who they are before I reveal them you receive a cupcake.)
“Sister I believe it is time to summon... The Four...” Luna said.
“Just who are these... Four, Luna?” Draco asked.
“Our most loyal generals, we have only summoned them in times of great desperation, and Luna is correct, we need them.”
The royal sisters touched their horns together, the library filling with a blinding light. When the group regained their sight they could see four ponies, each looking different then the last.
The first was colored a sickly yellow, his wispy mane the color of half-dead grass. Upon his body they could see angry red boils, clashing with patches of blotched purple skin, combined with what looked suspiciously like rotting flesh.
The second was thin skeletally so, like somepony had given him an outfit of skin three sizes two small. He looked frail, weak his emaciated form showing every knobby ridge of bone. His eyes were glassy and listless, reflecting his form to a T.
The third was huge, larger then Bigmac, muscles rippling over his entire form. His coat was a rusty red, his mane the color of flowing blood. In his eyes they could see snippets of the past, everyone of them filled to the brim with visions of pain, anger, and violence.
The last was just a shadow of a shadow, his dark cloak looked as if it was made of darkness itself. Underneath the hood they could see green eyes, that glowed and showed what looked like yellowed bone. For every moment they stared they felt like hours, days were being drained from their lives, consumed by the cloaked pony.
“I believe, our general can introduce themselves, Gentlecolts?” Celestia said.
The first spoke, his voice gurgling and bubbling as if the pony was trying to speak through a throat filled with phlegm. “Pestilence.”
The second spoke, his voice thin, raspy and frail. “Famine.”
The third spoke, his voice speaking of endless rage and hatred held back only by the thinnest of chains. “War.”
The final, cloaked pony spoke, her voice lilting, feminine. Like the soft whisper of wind whistling through the leaves. “Death.”
The gathered ponies gulped fearfully, for all had heard tales told by mares of these four, Pestilence, Famine, War, and Death.
“Uhm, are you sure they won't hurt us, they look awfully scary.” Fluttershy said, starring uneasily at Death.
“I foresee that you shall not have to put up with us for long, Fluttershy.... and I am never wrong.” Death replied cryptically.
The timid mare 'Eeped' and zoomed behind AJ, cowering beneath the Reaper mare's eery green gaze.
“Now, we must find the betrayer and destroy him. When we come, He will not be prepared.” Celestia said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the cave, far from Ponyville
“I'm glad the two of you came, Discord I would appreciate it if you would stop messing with my minion.” Nazhærn said.
“Oh come now Nazzy, I think he looks cool...” Discord said as he looked up from turning the gray pegasus pink.
“Foal.... I am only here because I want eternal night! You cannot command me!”
“Really now, Nightmare, do you HAVE to be so droll?”
“I assure you both, when we win you both shall get what you want. Nightmare shall have her eternal night. Discord, you may cause as much chaos as you wish.”
The two villains looked at each other briefly before looking at the dragon of betrayal.
“We agree!”
The vile dragon smiled, his mouth shining an icy, malevolent blue. “Good. Then here is what will happen.” He said as he began to lay out the plan for the four strong group of villains.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death sat in the center of a runic circle, energy being channeled around her as her billowing cloak of darkness shifted and waved in turmoil.
“What's she doin' again?” AJ asked her coltfriend.
“Searching for any trace of of the betrayer.” Draco replied, watching the demigod of death carefully.
Suddenly an explosion of magical energy engulfed death, and she yelped in pain.
The runic circle vanished around her as she staggered, struggling to stay on her hooves.
Fluttershy, being the ever caring kind pony she is, stood beside the demigod and helped her stay upright.
Death nodded her thanks to the shy yellow animal lover.
“I found him... and it get worse....”
“Worse, how can it get worse?” Twilight asked.
“Nazhærn has melded Nightmare and Discord into one horrendous being of evil. Discord now wears Nightmare's armor and has her powers...”
The group gulped audibly, knowing they could be outclassed. Separately, Nightmare and Discord could have been easily dealt with, but together they would be even harder to defeat, even with the Elements.
“We must find a way, else we loose all we love dear.” Draco said.
“Indeed, my sister and I will help in anyway we can. But we haven't fought in centuries so we may not be of much help.”
“We would be honored to fight beside you your majesty.” The group replied.
Together, the group prepared, planned and most of all spent time together, knowing this could be their last great stand against evil. A last great act of defiance. The fight that could mean the future of everything.
As the weeks passed the news spread, that an evil greater than anything pony-kind had faced before was coming. All of Equestria, from the dragons, to the griffons, to the zebra were prepared to lay down their lives so that future generations could live without the fear of evil.
Then, the day came. Nazhærn attacked, and the final battle.... began.
(AN: Man I am getting good at cliffhangers. Besides gotta maker plenty of room for the final battle for the future of Equestria. 'Dis gonna be good!)