Discordian Era, Ten years before Discord’s Imprisonment
The creature known as a draconequus floated around lazily, turning houses into cards and letting cotton candy clouds fly about. His body was almost that of a snake, with a dragon tail, a lion’s paw, a griffon’s talon, and a few other animals that don’t really make sense being stuck together.
Anyway, he was busy spreading his special type of Chaos when something appeared in front of him, a bright flash of light similar to his own when he used his Chaos Magic. A unknown creature fell out of it, smashing into the floor with a loud crash. When the light vanished, The Draconequus, known as Discord, floated over to the creature, observing it’s features.
The thing was heavily armored, with not an inch of body revealed. On it’s back was a long black cape, with what looked like skulls sewn in on the top, while on it’s head was a strange helmet, with two horns built into it, and three eye sockets, which blazed with arcane energy. The rest of It’s body, as stated previously, was covered in armor, that looked very boring and uninteresting. A sword and shield were stuck to it’s hands in an iron grip, resistant even to Discord’s attempts to pull them out. The shield bore an eight pointed star on it, a symbol very familiar to Discord.
But what took Discord’s attention the most was the fact that his aura quite literally oozed the energy of his former masters, a dark and chaotic force that tainted the very soil the creature was laying on, sowing it with corrupted seeds that quickly scorched the land. Before Discord could back away, the creature sat up, It’s eyes burning even brighter as it turned towards Discord.
“I am Archaon the Everchosen, Lord of the End TImes. Either swear fealty to me or be destroyed!” He growled, his voice dark and gravelly as he pointed his sword menacingly at Discord. The sword also burst into flames, adding to the threat.
Discord looked to be considering it, before vanishing entirely, not wanting to be near the “Everchosen” and his dark and corrupting aura. When he reappeared, a few miles away, he sighed, looking down at his paw and claw.
“My powers didn’t work on him. Just what is he? Did my old Lord send him to kill me? But he didn’t seem to know me on sight.” Discord pulled at his goatee. “Hm, for now I think I’ll just stay out of his way. What’s the worst that he could do?”
Meanwhile, The Everchosen growled, glancing around the area. A strange magic flowed through this land, so unlike the Winds of Magic that flowed freely throughout his land. He chuckled darkly.
“So, my masters, you wish me to bring The End Times to this land as well? So be it. In your names I shall bring ruin to this land, scorching the ground I tread as I march. Glory to the Chaos Gods!” He chuckled, before roaring loudly. He marched forward, the Chaos Aura swirling around him spreading across the land to corrupt those who held weaker souls than others. They would be Archaon’s first soldiers, his Chaos Marauders, through which he would begin a slaughter never before seen on the soil of Equus.
Meanwhile, in a location far away, two equines shuddered. They both had wings, as well as a horn, though their fur was entirely different. While one was covered in white fur, with a flowing multicolored mane, the other was the exact opposite, a dark blue coat with an almost starry mane, which flowed on it’s own, without wind. They were currently inside of a cave, with light droplets of water dripping from the ceiling somewhere nearby. The two were currently laying around a small campfire, which glowed with warmth in the dreary cave.
The blue one spoke first. “Sister, did you feel that?” She asked, referring to the feeling she just felt.
“Yes, Luna. I felt like a blanket of dread just draped itself over me. Something big is coming, possibly even bigger than Discord.” The white one replied.
“A bigger threat than Discord?! Impossible! Celestia, even you must admit that that is a bit of an exaggerated assumption.” The Blue Equine, now identified as Luna, raised an eyebrow.
“Perhaps, Luna, but we must be ready, in case this new thing proves my worries true.” Celestia replied.
Meanwhile, near Archaon’s first appearance
The massive warrior known as Archaon marched through town, earning fearful looks from the equine population within the town. Archaon growled.
“Where are the people of this accursed ghost town?! All I see are these accursed strangely colored horses!” He roared, swinging his flaming sword around. One horned equine, with blue fur and a white mane, stepped forward cautiously.
“U-um, sir, we are not “Horses”, whatever those are. We are ponies, and we are all around you. W-we aren’t hiding from you or anything.” It said. The Everchosen glared down at the ‘pony’.
“Then you are the sentient species of this world? Pah! I guess you will have to do.” He growled, before looking around the town. “All of you pathetic ‘ponies’, listen up! I am Archaon, Everchosen of Chaos, and Lord of the End Times. I come here to this pathetic little town to demand your service in my horde! Serve me willingly, or through force, I do not care, but you shall serve me nonetheless!” At this, one of the other ponies, this time a winged one, snorted.
“Serve you? Pah, as if! I bet behind all that fancy armor and weapons, you're nothing but a pushover!” He chuckled, earning a few nods from the crowd. The Everchosen glared down at the pony.
“You wish for me to prove my might?! Very well, I’ll prove it with you!” He roared, grabbing the pony by the head and lifting him up off the ground. Before the pony could use his wings to try- and fail - to fly away, Archaon let loose the powers his masters had granted him. Vile powers flowed freely from Archaon’s hand and into the pony, and said pony screamed in agony. Before the eyes of every other living creature, dark tendrils dug into the pony’s head, spreading across his body, before the mutation truly began. Archaon dropped him as his body began to bulge out in multiple places, while his limbs started twisting at unnatural angles, sometimes revealing the bone underneath. Extensions grew out of the pony’s hooves, turning into claws with razor sharp talons that could rip through metal and flesh with ease. His face morphed too, with fanged teeth beginning to protrude from his mouth, and his face grew outwards slightly. When the horrific transformation was complete, Archaon’s latest pet stood up on two legs, breathing heavily as acidic saliva dripped from it’s mouth. The pony that once inhabited this body was no more, replaced by a monster hungry for destruction.
The ponies who hadn’t rushed into their houses in terror yet had wide eyes, but seemed almost relieved when a group of ponies equipped with some form of armor marched forwards.
‘This must be another of Discord’s horrific new monsters. We should kill it before it can cause any more trouble.” One of them said, a horned pony with a bigger plume on his helmet than the others. “I want the unicorns to blast it with magic from behind, while the pegasi rain arrows on it from above. Earth Ponies, ready your spears.” He ordered. The rest of the group nodded, before splitting off into three different groups. Archaon chuckled, allowing the foolish ponies to take up their pathetic excuse for a formation.
As the ponies charged forward, Archaon’s beast snarled, but Archaon made it wait. Taking out his sword, he marched forward to meet the rushing enemy. As they got near, Archaon raised his sword, even as arrows pelted his armor. He brought it down in a destructive arch, swatting away the spearponies like flies before chasing after the closest one, stabbing him in the side, before immediately slicing his next victim in two. Suddenly, two beams of magic smashed into him, tossing him into a nearby building. Archaon got back up, growling as he marched back out and over the crushed bodies of the ponies he had landed on.
As he walked out, he began gathering up his energies. “Do you think I am not versed in the arcane?!” He roared, before a massive fireball erupted into existence in front of him, flying on a direct course to the ‘unicorns’. Most got out of the way, but one unlucky soul took the blast head on, being turned to ash in seconds. The squadron leader was shaking as Archaon drew closer, before crying out, “Withdraw! Withdraw! We cannot fight this thing!” The other ponies nodded in fear before running away with their tails between their legs. Archaon laughed loudly, before glaring at the forgotten populace.
“Now you have seen my power. Kneel down and pledge your service to me and the Dark Gods, and you will live to serve in my Horde. If you do not, I shall let my pet rip you to shreds as an example.” He ordered, and they all nodded, shaking madly before kneeling. Archaon’s magic wove through the ground and grabbed at each of them, corrupting their souls to the Dark Powers. When they rose, they no longer were afraid. They Each had a savage and wicked grin on their face, and they all gave off a dark aura, most prominent near the eight-pointed star seared into their chests. Archaon grinned inside his helmet.
“Now, gather your weapons! We march a path of blood! Let all who stand in our way meet their end at the hands of The End Times!”
In unison, the corrupted ponies raised their heads and roared.
“Blood for the Blood God!”
Meanwhile, in the Void
A being hovered over the universe, chuckling to himself. “This should make things more interesting for my brothers and my Legion. This will be their final test then. If they can defeat this threat, they will be worthy to face the stars. All according to plan.” He said, his staff humming with energy. “I, Ahzek Ahriman, Warmaster of Chaos and the New Black Legion, hereby commit this final test. Let them face the End Times!”