End of Days, End of Nights

by The REAL Mister Pkmn

Part One: Now, Let the Game Truly Begin! (Edited)

In the Frozen Palace Ruins in the tundra of the Frozen North, an ice-blue unicorn stallion with a light blue mane and tail was currently looking down upon the small town of Ponyville through the power of an artifact called the Gazing Orb. His crystalline blue eyes gazed down upon the ponies of the town, regarding them as mere pawns in his game. After all, that is just what they were to him; pawns. Then, he smiled as a train containing a certain blue unicorn mare traveled near the town. He then spoke in his cold, harsh voice with no hint of mirth. "Ah, so she's arrived at last. It now begins, my endgame, my final phase. I'll set the strings of fate into motion." He then shifted the view to a distant town, showing a dark teal unicorn stallion, he continued; gritting his teeth. "Though, I wonder if this unexpected variable will decide to meddle or not… Never know with him. Let him try and stop me from my goal if he wants, it won't matter in the end." He then chuckled darkly and smiled. A strange necklace with an obsidian snowflake swung slightly around his neck...
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Janice Dazzle, a blue unicorn mare with cyan and lavender mane and tail, indigo eyes, a cutie mark that looked like a shooting star with gems off-shooting from its tail, was on the inbound train to Ponyville, and she was reading the letter that she'd received from her mentors. It read:

"To our prized and faithful protégé, Janice Dazzle.

We would once again like to thank you for your recent help with organizing the Serene Spring Celebration, Summer Sun Celebration, Autumn Harvest Festival, and Winter Moon Festival of last year. We were so impressed that we have decided to extend to you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to help organize the upcoming Eclipse Extravaganza, which is to be held in Ponyville. This event is only held every 50 years, and Ponyville is a relatively young town, so it wasn't able to participate in the festivities last time. Ponies from all across Equestria will be gathering in Ponyville for this event, so this will be your toughest assignment yet. We anticipate that you will need to stay in the town itself for at least three days to properly prepare. We suggest you talk to Mayor Ivory Scrolls first to go over the budget and inquire about where you will be staying. A list of the ponies that will be providing the Extravaganza's food, entertainment, music, decorations, and weather arrangements will be provided to you when you speak with the mayor. Best of luck to you.

Your mentors,

Princesses Celestia & Luna Equestris.”

Janice sighed deeply. She loved it when the princesses gave her difficult tasks, she truly did, but she always felt she could be doing so much more with her life, like running a jewelry shop. Janice always dreamed of one day selling her masterfully beautiful enchanted jewelry to all kinds of ponies, perhaps even to minotaurs, griffons, and even dragons. Sure, the celebrations and festivals had always seen some income for her, but it just wasn't the same as selling her works on a daily basis. She then looked down to her neck, where she saw the one piece of jewelry she could never ever possibly part with: a platinum ovular locket, with her cutie mark etched into its front. This locket wasn't her own creation of course, but a gift from her father before he died. There were only five others like it, and they belonged to her half-siblings: Servo, Chessmaster, Maestro Spectrum, Aurora Gale, and Story Image. She didn't even know about them until about six years back, but she was happy to have at least some family. It was too bad about Servo, though- she'd died soon after Janice met her. Janice cleared her thoughts as the train entered Ponyville proper. She had to focus on the task at hoof, preparing for the Eclipse Extravaganza. She took a deep breath as the train came to a stop at the station, and she exited onto the platform. She found the Town Hall easily enough, seeing as it was the second tallest building in Ponyville, aside from Golden Oaks Library. She entered and went straight to the Mayor's office. She only knew where it was because all the Town Halls across Equestria's many towns and cities had an identical layout. Janice knocked on the door with her hoof, and heard a voice call from the inside. "Enter." She opened the door to the office and went inside. Behind the Mayor's desk was a tan earth pony mare with silver mane and tail and had a scroll as a cutie mark. The mare spoke in an authoritative tone. "Ah, Janice Dazzle, I presume? The Princesses sent word of your arrival to me."

Janice cleared her throat. "Yes, that's me. You are Mayor Ivory Scrolls, then? I'm here to talk about the budget for the Extravaganza."

The tan mare nodded. "Indeed." Pulling out a scroll and hoofing it to Janice, she continued, "That scroll contains the information that you require; how much money is to be divied out and to whom. As you can guess, it also contains information on who will be helping out with the Extravaganza. As for where you'll be staying, it's room 110 in the Ponyville Hotel just across the street."

Janice now noticed that a room key had been hoofed to her after that statement, and dipped her head politely. "Thank you. This saves me so much time. Goodbye!"

As Janice exited the office, she heard the mayor reply in a sing-song tone. "Don't be a stranger, now! If anything comes up, feel free to let me know!" Janice nodded to herself, and took out the scroll she'd been given by the mayor, and opened it. This is what it said:

"To be provided to the Farmer's Union of Ponyville, which convenes at Sweet Apple Acres, a sum of 600 bits has been approved.

To be provided to one Concerta Whimsey, a compensation of 400 bits has been approved.

To be provided to one Rarity Belle and Roseluck Flora, who convene at Carousel Boutique, funds totaling 500 bits to be used on decorations has been approved.

To be provided to one Cloudkicker, a compensation of 300 bits has been approved.

To be provided to one Melia Breeze, a compensation of 400 bits has been approved.

To be provided to one Special Guest, a compensation of 600 bits has been approved, and a request for a special artwork has been requested. An extra compensation of 600 bits will be provided for filling this request.”

Janice’s eyes widened. Bits were the second highest form of Equestrian currency, just below the Stampede coin which was made of platinum and worth 2,000 bits, and just above the silver Jangle which had 100 go into a bit, which was more valuable than the copper Trot coin, of which there were 50 to a Jangle. Janice scrunched her brow at that last line on the scroll. Who was this "Special Guest," and how was she supposed to find them? She decided not to dwell on it, and instead looked at the map that was attached to the scroll to head for Sweet Apple Acres.
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The ice blue stallion chuckled as he watched Janice. She had no idea what was about to occur. Nopony, even the princesses themselves, could be truly prepared for what he had planned. After all, this was his game, and they were all unwitting pawns. He then spoke as he set up a chess board. "It is time to gather all the significant pieces. Even with an unexpected variable, all will certainly go according to plan." After the board was completely set up, he smiled a sinister grin. "Now, let the game truly begin!"