//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Equestria's ultimate protectors // Story: Undead Knights // by Kaliann25 //------------------------------// Chapter 1: The Undead Knights, ultimate protectors of Equestria The cold slowly increased more and more. The Ice Kingdom Forces, commanded by King Charlatan himself marched towards the Crystal Empire capital. The ice-cold aura expanded at every step he made making the pony soldiers under command of alicorn general Shining Armor lose terrain. Only beings of extreme cold like Charlatan’s penguins and their domesticated yetis could survive in those surroundings. “Come on my little ponies, go on and face me. The fight is with me, or have you just realized your little magic can’t touch me? I’m Charlatan, the incarnation of chill; and the little creatures who can’t stand me, HAVE TO DIE!” He blew a powerful blizzard from his beak, forcing Shining to cast his shield even if he knew he won’t be able to keep it; it was too cold for him and sooner or later his soldiers would freeze to death. Charlatan was too strong, and this would mean the end of the pony race. The Penguin King laughed, he knew all he had to do now was wait until Shining gets tired. “Equestria is mine” Shining kept his shield trying to buy his soldiers some time to escape, but Charlatan prevented this and covered the surroundings two tons of snow, now they were trapped and about to become penguin flesh. The alicorn felt himself fainting. “Cadance… my people… I’ve failed you…” He closed his eyes waiting for the inevitable. But just when he released the shield another more powerful shield replaced his at the time two gentle but cold hooves took him gently. Shining shivered, not because of the cold but because he knew the owner of those hooves. “You…” The black hooded pony smiled at him, her bright red eyes made the white sharply fangs stand out even more. “You had your chance Shiny, but failed miserably. It’s time for the big girls to take care of this” Five more black-hooded ponies appeared within the snow, all with red eyes, fangs and the sadistic smiles. The pony soldiers gulped and whined scared, but not from Charlatan’s army anymore but because of the monsters. They knew how this was going to end: a carnage. And to make things worse, they spotted a dragon flying in circles above them. Shining shook his head in fear, no, not them. “The Undead Knights have arrived” The pony who saved Shining, an alicorn and the Undeads’ leader just looked boringly to Charlatan and after leaving Shining safe on the ground, she slowly began to walk towards Charlatan. The Penguin King concentrated his blizzard on her but the alicorn shrugged indifferently and kept walking like nothing. Soon enough the pony got trapped in an ice block but it didn’t last and after five seconds she got free and kept walking. Charlatan shivered, didn’t know what was going on but all his instincts were warning him this pony was dangerous, very dangerous. “How is that you don’t feel my cold?” “I’m a corpse, I cannot feel anything” One by one the other hooded ponies joined their leader smiling to the penguins, who unwarily moved slightly backwards. As King Charlatan, they felt an incoming danger from this ponies… if they were really ponies. “Trapped between life and death we spend our unlives protecting the Kingdom from idiots like you” “We’re so glad you made this party for us, because I love partying, right girls? I used to live for parties, now I… die for them? Can’t really tell” “We’ll figure out later darling, right now we have an army to exterminate” “Gothic is right this speech is taking too long, it’s time to kill. We’re the Undead Knights, not the Chit-Chat Knights” Charlatan shouted and took a spear from one of his soldiers and stabbed the nearest monster in the heart. She shrugged and ripped off her own head… to immediately grow a new one. “Yeah, we’re kind of invincible. Sorry. Tell me King Charlatan, do you really have blue blood in your veins or red like the rest we’ve killed” Charlatan gulped and tried to run away, but the unicorn of the group (Gothic) caught him with her magic. Charlatan tried to fight with his own magic but again the unicorn was too strong and as a corpse didn’t tire. Then the alicorn made her horn glow as well and every dead pony and penguin in the battlefield stood and began to advance against Charlatan’s army, without mercy. The penguins screamed in fear, necromancy; the blackest of the forbidden arts. Who were this ponies? What they were? Then another of the Undeads, a Pegasus just laughed crazily and stabbed Charlatan in the stomach, and opened it with a single blow. The giant penguin screamed in pain, and then the second Pegasus of the group stabbed another knife in the back, right on the spine with such precision that Charlatan let escape a tear when he notice he couldn’t feel his legs anymore. Knowing he wasn’t a threat anymore, Gothic released him and he fell on the snow unable to defend himself. “Soldiers… RUN!!!” There was no need to repeat, his once disciplined and full of confidence army shrieked and began the massive escape. The undead alicorn chuckled. “As you wish. Night Terror” The dragon above them stopped flying in circles and landed in front of the terrorized penguins, took a bunch in his gigantic claws and mercilessly began to eat them one by one. He smiled evilly to his victims with his teeth dripping blood. “Delicious” In the meantime, King Charlatan was dying. Between the two earth ponies from the group decided it would be ‘fun’ to chop out his wings with a blunt axe only to prolong his suffering but at the end he was just a mortal. The alicorn stared at what was left of Charlatan finally commanded: “Finish him” Gothic, the unicorn, nodded to her leader and cut his throat. It was the end so the leader shrugged and turned to the terrified ponies who they just saved. “Okay, he’s dead. Let’s take our survivors back to the Crystal Empire” “And what about their survivors?” “Night Terror will eat them all except one. To tell the story to his friends in case this idiot had an heir stupid enough to try to invade our Kingdom as well” Shining Armor was trembling, not because of the cold (it wore off right after Charlatan’s death) but in fear. This monsters scared him the most, and the worst part was that they were on their side. Ten years after the disappearing of the Bearers of Harmony this monsters self-proclaimed their replacements but instead of solve conflicts by the Magic of Friendship, they just massacred anyone who dared to threat Equestria. Charlatan was lucky, old foes like Chrysalis… or Starlight Glimmer (the one who defeated the Bearers) were just captured and got tortured to death. “Stay away from us!” Shouted Shining. The undead alicorn just looked at him boringly. “But you used too much magic and are too weak to walk. No, I think is better for you if Night Terror carries you back home. Nighty, my beloved, are you finished” The giant purple dragon with black wings and red eyes landed before the alicorn and kissed her hoof with the passion of a lover. “Yes I am done my lady. What can I do for you?” “Be a sweetheart and carry Shine back home. I’ll reward you in the night, you can use both of my holes for your pleasure” Night Terror smiled lustfully. “Not only my pleasure and you know it my dear Midnight” The alicorn blushed a little but dedicated to her undead lover a playful smile. So much for Shining Armor’s protest Night Terror took him and began to walk to the Crystal Empire leaded by his lover the alicorn Midnight and followed by the rest of the Undead Knights. Everypony but the unicorn Gothic who was too busy cutting and embalming King Charlatan’s head. She even replaced the eyes with jewels to make it look prettier. “So wonderful, oh Gothic you’re such an artist” And she joined her friends in their march of victory back to the Empire. In the borders of the Crystal Empire, Luna, Cadance and Celestia were busy maintaining a magical shield to keep their little ponies warm and safe while Shining took care of Charlatan’s army, but they were afraid of the result knowing Charlatan’s powers were too strong. Cadence shook her head in fear. “If only we still had the Elements of Harmony” Luna closed her eyes in sadness. “You know the Elements disappeared along with the Bearers over six thousand years ago” Celestia sighed sadly, she really missed her student. Everything went from bad to worse since her defeat at the hooves of Starlight Glimmer, who not only took her Cutie Mark but also destroyed it leaving the purple alicorn and her friends unable to recover their true potential again. And then the Undead Knights appeared out of nowhere and the Kingdom was safe once again, but at the cost of its history getting more violent each decade. Luckily they sealed the monsters like fifty years ago… But in the meantime that was the darkest era of Equestria. With their violent and sadistic methods they kept all the ponies safe by keeping terrified the other Kingdoms. Cadence, Shining, Luna and Celestia faced them over and over sealing the monsters with the most powerful spells they could cast because they knew there was no way to destroy an Undead since they were dead already. But nothing, and they also knew that sooner or later the Undead Knights would free from the last Seal they locked. After all, the seven monsters were called the invincible beasts for a reason. And they knew that the day had come when one of the sentinels announced: “Your majesties, the soldiers are back! They seem to be safe but…” “But what?” “General Armor is getting carried by… Night Terror” Everypony shivered in horror, so they were back. The last seal only bought them fifty years of peace. A whole new record but still they need to recast the sealing spells on the monsters again, but in the meantime they had to stand decades of pointless massacres. Soon the group arrived and the soldiers ran to hide while the monsters bowed to their monarchs. Midnight took a step closer and smiled confidently to Princess Celestia. “Once again we’ve saved the day. The brave ponies who died in this battle will be remembered forever for their sacrifice, but we assure you your Majesties that they died before we arrived” Then Gothic approached presenting Charlatan’s head to the Princesses. “Here, I present you as a tribute to you, your Majesties, as a symbol that even if you don’t want us, we’ll protect our beloved Kingdom no matter what” Finally Night Terror smiled to them too agitating his wings in excitement. “And as always, we allowed one survivor to escape and tell the story back in his country. No penguin will dare to attack Equestria in a while. Only one, we can assure. After all we undeads are sensitive to life” Again the seven monsters bowed waiting for a word from the Monarchs they served even if those Monarchs didn’t want to be served by them. Celestia puked in repulsion looking at the head and shouted with her Canterlot voice she shouted: “GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!” “The Undead Knights bow to you” said the seven monsters at the unison. Said that, the monsters climbed on Night Terror’s back and the dragon flew away back to their refuge of darkness. The Princesses were staring at them leaving when a guard approached taking the head. “What we do with the tribute, you Majesties?” “Take it away from us of course” Then Celestia began to walk thoughtful, this was too much for her to stand. She had to do something and do it no. Luna approached carefully and touched her sister’s shoulder with concern. “Sister?” “I can’t take it anymore Luna. I need to confront them, I need my faithful student back but instead I have Midnight and those things she commands. I… like I said I’ll confront them, let them know I know who they were” “Then I’m going with you, like you I can’t take it anymore” … None of the Undeads said anything during their trip back to their only refuge in the world: the Princesses old Castle in the middle of the now desert Everfree Forest (no creature would dare to be close of the seven monsters). It was always the same, once they massacred an enemy they just went to lay down and read something, Night Terror and Midnight had some rough sex waiting for the next victim. As the monsters they were the only thing that satisfied them was torture and murder. And still no matter how they fight for Equestria, no matter how many blood they spread, the Undead Knights were not satisfied. They needed to kill, kill, kill and keep killing… but their moral code only allowed them to kill menaces as a tribute for who they were in life. They stayed silent for a moment (without counting Midnight’s and Night Terror’s moans) when one of the earth ponies, Jack the Reaper, simply said: “You know? A’ love ya’ girls and it’s great to kill at yer’ side but sometimes A’ wish that this never happened to us. That we never lost to Glimmer and never did the dark ritual that turned us into this” One of the Pegasus, Fleshy Smile nodded. “I know how you feel. I also wish to get back to the days we were happy” Midnight separated from Night Terror and levitated a book to her. “Sadly enough there’s a spell that could help us but it’s Magic of Light and that’s out of the question for us, only a living being can do it and we’re not alive. The thing is it can make us go back to the past, wherever we want, and avoid this to happen” The other Pegasus, Undash, raised an eyebrow. “How?” The second earth pony, Pin-Kill-Die, face-hoofed. “Are you an idiot or what? We go back in time, kill Glimmer before she destroys our Cutie Marks and history will change. Hopefully we will disappear as we never existed” They all shrugged and got back to their reading and sex, but suddenly they felt a presence, but it was no enemy; only the Princesses they swore to serve. “It seems like we have visitors. Night Terror, go grab some wine to offer our Monarchs. I think we have some in the cellar. Do you think they’ll like a five thousand year old wine?” Night Terror shrugged and one by one the Undead Knights stood waiting for their Princesses. Did they wanted to kill somepony? Delighted! Finally Luna and Celestia arrived and again they all bowed waiting for their orders. Maybe they would try to seal them again but they didn’t really cared, it was something to change the routine. “Welcome to your former home and current headquarters my dear Princesses. What can we do for you? Need us to kill somepony?” Celestia grinded her teeth. “Stop it already you six! This ends tonight! Who do you think you’re fooling? I’ve known from a while, even if I never wanted to admit it; but I can’t take it anymore. This haves to stop right now. And WHAT WOULD YOUR FAMILIES SAY IF THEY SEE YOU THIS WAY, KILLING MERCILESSLY OVER AND OVER?” Midnight raised an eyebrow. “So you came here to make us stop, again. Go ahead and seal us like you use to, is not like we can’t get free anytime, you know?” “Don’t make us do it, please. We know who you really are… at least who you were. Don’t force us to lock you away again” Pin-Kill-Die rolled her eyes. “You see: uncontrollable blood thirst is part of the nature of the Undead. We mix who we were with our new nature killing only to protect Equestria, isn’t that a good deal. Celestia sobbed. “Stop it, please! Twili…” Midnight put a hoof on her mouth. “Don’t dare you to call me that name, this form corrupted by darkness is not worthy of it. I answer now to the name of Midnight, understood? Me and my friends are not who we were, we’re something much more powerful and sinister. Accept it already” Luna let escape a tear. “Please stop this” Undash shook her head. “We can’t, we have to pay for our stupidity to make that ritual three thousand years ago” “You mean the ritual that did this to you?” “We did it to ourselves” Celestia cleaned her tears. “If only we were there to help you…” Again Undash shook her head. “There’s nothing you could do, it was fate. We lowered our guard to Glimmer, lost our Cutie Marks forever, and turned into this… that was it. What happened was only our fault, and Glimmer’s but that’s other story. The thing is what’s done it’s done” Celestia sighed. “I know, that’s why I need to seal you again. I know you’ll escape but still is the only solution I can think of” Midnight took the book and presented the spell to Celestia. “I don’t know if it was a coincidence or fate, but maybe you won’t have to do it. If there was a chance that none of this ever happened, would you take it?” Celestia observed the book. “You want to change history” “Exactly, we save our past selves from this fate, and hopefully disappear forever. I would do it myself but only a living being can cast it” Luna looked at Celestia, who was staring to the ponies she cared about thousands of years ago and missed with all her heart. Every time she heard about a new massacre of the Undeads, she missed them more. And now right before her was a way to avoid this to happen, to rewrite history. “If I accomplish your wish, what will you do?” Midnight grinned. “Avoid our past selves to become us by killing Glimmer before she destroys our Cutie Marks, of course” Celestia nodded. “Alright” Luna couldn’t believe her ears. “Sister, please try to think about it!” “Sorry Luna, but if I can save my faithful student I’ll do it. History need to be changed, we need to prevent the existence of the Undead Knights” And with all her power she created the Time Gate, the spell that would send the Undead Knights back to the happier days of their lives. They began to vanish in the air, transporting to another time holding to the chance to never becoming this. “Good luck, Midnight” Finally they were gone, the Undeads left to change history forever. … When the monsters opened their eyes, they were in the exact same spot, but in the past. The Castle seemed newer and everything around them was so colorful and full of life. “So what’s the plan, my lady?” Asked Night Terror. The Undead leader shrugged. “Don’t you heard me? We go to Ponyville, kill Glimmer before she takes our Cutie Marks and change history. As easy as it sounds. The other six nodded but Pin-Kill-Die had her doubts. “What about our past selves? They’ll scare to death if they see us” Midnight sighed. “I’ll cast a permanent-presence charm in our hoods. But yeah, they’ll might fight us… or try to and then fail as miserably as Shining Armor did. So, we take care of them first and then we kill Glimmer” So they began their march to Ponyville. If there was a chance for them to never existed, they would take it no matter what. Even if they were protectors of Equestria, they hated themselves with all heart. The Undead Knights, Equestria’s ultimate protectors.