Zecora sat quietly in her cell in the dark dungeon. She had tried to stay positive all of this time but it was really becoming a lost cause. Apple Bloom, the precocious filly who was Zecora's protege in potion making, had let her dark side fully consume her. Zecora thought she actually had the power to make Bloom see the error of her ways. However, Zecora had been written off like the rest of Equestria - an undesirable who wasn't deserving of Bloom's time or attention. Celestia was gone - because of Bloom but also because of Tirek. Zecora wouldn't cry. She refused to let herself succumb to emotional release. She was set to die tomorrow anyway. There was absolutely no one who could stop Bloom or Tirek - well, except each other. If that were to happen, that would have meant Bloom would of had a change in heart. Oh yes, thought Zecora with a quiet chuckle, Bloom certainly had a strong say in what happened to Zecora - in more ways than the little Alicorn filly probably realized.
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Tirek was a proud centaur. This was what Equestria was meant to be like. A world with neither a sun nor a moon. A world that was fit to his liking. He had a plan of his own. His daughter was too smart for her own good. She needed to be weaker. He needed to be stronger. This was a different kind of potential loss from when he lost to Twilight Sparkle. Some stupid magic box. Some retarded rainbow power which took him by surprise. His power was gone in a split second. But he still was spared his life. Tirek couldn't believe the stupidity of the ponies. They didn't kill him. They just sent him back to Tartarus. That was when he started paying attention to his daughter, it took him a while to figure out whether she had any of his traits. Apple Bloom was as sharp as a tack but so was her mother. Tirek needed to stop looking at strengths but weaknesses, he realized. Bloom was impatient and held a high opinion of herself and why shouldn't she? She was the daughter of Tirek.
The one thing Apple Bloom really wanted was her cutie mark along with her two friends. Cutie marks? What ridiculous things! If Apple Bloom was raised by Tirek, she would have known that cutie marks were meaningless. She also seemed to be far too loyal of an Apple and far too interested in the welfare of others. That made Bloom like her mother - so unfortunate. Tirek wondered what could change that. Was there anything he could do? He needed Bloom's loyalty to go to him. The only way to do that was to grow the hate inside the filly from afar. Why did she not have her cutie mark? But why did so many undesirables have them? Why? Why? Why was the world such an awful place and did she have the power to change it? It took a while. The filly ignored the thoughts at first but over time.. he was responsible for making Apple Bloom the cunning killer that she was. He gave her power so he had the right to take it away. Father knows best. He would converse with his daughter now.
The oversized centaur called out on the top of his lungs, "APPLE BLOOM - COME HERE NOW!!"
In less than a second, his Alicorn daughter flew within his line of vision.
"Oh daddy", said Bloom in an insincerely sweet voice, "what do you desire from me? I was deep in slumber."
Tirek was feeling a tinge of regret for his action - not because he woke up his daughter but because it would have been so much easier to do what he needed to do.
"I have been thinking quite often of the future", said Tirek, "what exactly do we want Equestria to be? Well - first of all, we need to change the name of this land. Such a disgusting pony name."
"Yes, indeed. Ah suppose we could call it Centauria instead - since our kind is clearly the strongest."
"Hmmm - not creative enough. You are using a pony frame of mind. Celestia probably prided herself on that name even though it was a simple combination of equine and Celestia. I want my world to symbolize what it is truly meant to be. I was victorious. This world is mine."
"Your world? Without me, you'd still be wasting away in Tartarus. Ah think it is our world."
"You have helped me greatly - my daughter. Your skills are unmatched with any pony. I am proud to not be one of those pony folk."
Now was the time. Tirek laughed and then said, "you are no match for your father. I want you to give me your Alicorn Magic now."
Apple Bloom pouted and then whined, "why Daddy? Ah been so good. Why would you even think of such a thing?"
"The world is better off - the more powerful I am. This is something every pony, including you, must accept."
"What if I disagree?"
"I must say I'm not surprised to hear that. You shall obey your father - whether you like it or not!!" Tirek could hardly believe this petulant brat he had for a daughter - certainly the traits came from her mother and not him.
"Ah will do anything, ah just want to be an Alicorn with my cutie mark more than anything."
"Cutie marks? What a preposterous concept! Only ponies would put such faith in those things. You'll be fine without it."
"B-b-b-but my black apple..."
"The cutie mark I made for you!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Powerful beings - such as myself- possess quite a magic. About two years ago when I came so close to conquering Equestria, I found you - my daughter. I didn't know much about you then but I noticed you were still a blank flank. At that time, I cast a little spell on you. You were given your cutie mark - usually Celestia's bidding but I had her magic. The black apple - based on some stupid story your mother told me she heard from that apple farm. It was me. I knew you were a cold-blooded killer at heart. You'd know that the world was filled with undesirables who must be destroyed. Some are more undesirable than others of course. I, Tirek, am the most powerful. You are the second most powerful and it must stay that way."
Apple Bloom sighed and said, "why are you always right, Daddy?"
"Because I am Lord Tirek - the rightful ruler of Perfection. Yes, my world shall be called Perfection. When I am in charge, there is perfection. Do you understand?"
"Ah do, Daddy."
"Good", responded Tirek with a huff, "now, this won't hurt." Tirek closed his eyes and let himself focus on his daughter and all of her Alicorn Magic. It would soon be his. Yes.. Tirek felt himself grow stronger and stronger. He watched as his daughter dwindled in size and lost her horn, her wings, and soon enough.. her cutie mark. Yes.... *cough cough cough*... w-w-w-what?"
Tirek fell to the ground and could no longer move. He didn't know what happened. This was supposed to make him stronger - not weaker. But in a split second, it clicked, "you are my daughter..you...I can't believe it." Tirek opened and closed his eyes for the last time.
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Apple Bloom was poison. That was her strength. She felt all of the magic leave Tirek's body and go into hers. She sighed. She wished that she didn't have to kill Tirek but it was the only way that she could go on with her plans. Her true ideal. Tirek was wrong. There were good ponies in the world. Tirek was foolish to think that he could control Bloom like he did with her mother. She gave her father a chance to live. All he had to do was not try to take her cutie mark anyway. Bloom didn't care that her father gave her the cutie mark. The black apple was now her destiny. It was who she was. Apple Bloom was not only the smartest pony now - she was also the strongest pony and the tallest pony. If Celestia was alive, Apple Bloom would have towered over her. Bloom must have been ten feet tall. She was nowhere as large as Tirek was but she didn't need to be for what she would do.
Apple Bloom channeled her magic into making an announcement: "My subjects. Ah have an announcement to make. Tirek, my father, has died. This means I am now the sole ruler of Equestria. You have no more reason to fear Tirek but you have reason to fear me - unless you have been deemed worthy of existence by me. Ah demand summoning of the four protected citizens: Silver Spoon, Cerberus, Twilight Sparkle, and Gilda. Ah will need all of you by my side within the next three hours. For every hour after that which one of you isn't here, fifty subjects at random shall be killed. So I'd advise you to not be late."
Yes, Apple Bloom had everything she ever wanted - the ability to make the world a better place. But why then was she feeling so empty? What was missing? Perhaps she needed assurance that no pony would try to resurrect Celestia - yes, that was it. Besides, Zecora would be dead tomorrow. If she could kill Tirek, she could kill any pony. She was the best. Nothing was missing. She then heard a familiar source of irritation, "so the great and powerful Apple Bloom has gotten rid of Tirek, how does it feel - almighty ruler of Equestria? Fifty subjects at random? Am I included in this count even though technically I don't live under your jurisdiction?"
Discord. She hated how Discord had absolutely no fear of her. She smirked when she realized that she was now taller than the master of chaos - maybe she could put the fear in him.
"Ah don't think you should be trespassing into my castle?"
"Oh, my bad", said Discord, "I saw a wall which I thought indicated I needed to stay out but it was so easy to get past it that I assumed it was for decoration."
"Obviously, the wall isn't working. It's supposed to keep undesirables out."
"Perhaps, I'm not so undesirable - Alicorn Apple Bloom."
"No", snarled Apple Bloom, "you are a loser with nothing else to do. You probably never left the premises after I last saw you. The wall my father built is the best wall."
"You must be so happy. I envy your happiness. I wish I knew what it was like to be so happy - living a life without problems. I wish I had your cunning and your strength. Even if I'm technically not your subject, I shall consider myself your loyal follower."
Apple Bloom couldn't believe it. This asshole was mocking her. She would destroy Discord. Apple Bloom let her horn glow and began to aim it at Discord but..
"Do you really think you'd benefit from my death", asked Discord, "will it serve any purpose?"
Apple Bloom lost her concentration, drat!
"It would get you to shut the fuck up."
"Hmmm.. Shutting the fuck up? Interesting concept. I haven't tried that before."
"I can tell", muttered Apple Bloom.
"I do miss the sun though. And the moon. Such a dark world, but I suppose this was part of your ideal - I wouldn't have guessed it but I guess my character judgment was weak when it came to you."
Apple Bloom figured it was best to ignore him - Discord was a troll who fed on her reactions to what he said. It wouldn't matter anyway. She could get rid of Discord anytime she wanted to but she couldn't waste her energy on him. She saw that Discord had shrunk himself down in size and was napping on a table. Jeez. He had nothing better to do, huh.
Apple Bloom heard a knock. It must have been one of the four. She opened the door and smiled - her favorite of the four - Gilda.
"You know I'm on your side", said Gilda, "and I'll do whatever you need me to do to keep the other three in line - well, except kill them of course which as you know is my biggest strength."
"No worries", said Bloom, "ah know plenty of ways you'll be useful as I keep those three in line. Plenty of ways."