The corruption. No one knows what it is, much less where it came from, how, or when, only the scene straight out of a nightmare that followed its arrival. It washed over the entirety of Canterlot City like a great tsunami, possessing anyone it came into contact with and turning them into mindless, distorted, glitchy amalgamations of their former selves. These "corrupted" only have one goal: To spread the influence of the darkness further and take out any survivors they find, even friends and family.

Amidst the chaos, a small group of unlikely survivors forms, consisting of Wallflower, Flash, Bon Bon, Sweet Leaf and Trixie.

Together, they manage to escape the hordes of corrupted that have overtaken the city, barricading themselves within the upper floors of a massive office building. This, however, came with a new set of problems. As far as any of them knew, there was no way back down, the corrupted stalking the lower floors in unknown numbers. They were trapped. Not knowing what else to do, they split up, searching both for things they could use to defend themselves and for a backup generator to get the power back on. A solid plan, except for one small caveat. . .

They aren't alone.

This story is a prequel/sidestory to my much longer, more in-depth project, When Darkness Falls. I recommend that you read it after this because it will eventually give all the answers to questions you might have after reading this, such as where the corruption came from, where Sunset and her friends are in all of this, if they're even still alive, and most importantly: Has Equestria been affected?

This story, along with its sister fic, are based on the Learning with Pibby concept, first coined by Adult Swim in October of 2021. I very, very strongly recommend you watch the official concept trailer before diving into this for the best exposition prior to reading.

Trailer link: https://youtu.be/Btu0O47u3rY?si=2dafFeRTyUBBjjZo

(Remastered version. Compared to the old draft of this fic you can still find on my profile, this one has numerous changes/revisions, most notably a completely rewritten ending that will lead into another spinoff fic, and the removal of unnecessary elements such as swearing to change its rating from M to T.)

This story is a sequel to Sun Redacted

Discord knows about the Malformants. They bring Chaos, but not the kind of Chaos Discord likes.

They need to go. By any means necessary.

Chapters to be posted everyday until complete. One chapter for every day in October.

Content Warnings will be noted at the start of all chapters. All Content is mild with no graphic depictions. Gore is tagged more to cover bases.

Edited by EileenSaysHi

Preread by The Sleepless Beholder and Dewdrops on the Grass

Another night, another party. It seems like an endless cycle, but this one is different, being in Canterlot. For Anonymous, it's a night to cut loose, indulge in more than a few strong drinks, and embrace the freedom of inebriation. He's not here to meet ponies and take in meaningful conversation... but fate has a silly way of manipulating wants and needs.

Not much to say about this one. It was a short scrap I had that never really went anywhere and was meant more for comedy. Still has a bit of that I suppose, but it's definitely got more meaning than that now.

Rated teen for alcohol and language.

“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.

“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”

“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.

“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”

(Excerpt from Alice Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.)

Sanctuary Mental Hospital has no shortage of ghost stories. Given the horrific abuses that went on in the name of science and medicine, there are a variety of tales one could choose from its long eighty-four year history.

What is presented here is a surprisingly recent story involving the infamous asylum. Partly told through news paper articles since it’s closing. And partly from the account of a pony who was sent to there after the death of his parents.

At the age of fifty-four, he has received word that Fillydelphia officials are going to have the hospital be torn down. Wishing to see it one last time, he reaches out to the current owner of the property to have one last look at it before it's gone for good. But through an accident, he finds that while he may have checked out - the hospital hasn't entirely forgotten him.

This story is a sequel to Our Past Is Not Today

In the fanfic story based on the film Rainbow Rocks, a fictionalized Rebecca Shoichet who is in her 30s discovers an unexpected twist, and records the whole Battle of the Bands on camera, and encounters the Rainbooms and decides to invite them to a recording studio in Canterlot City.

It's always weird to have to use the bathroom in someone else's home.
The sink might be in a different place, or the tub might be the wrong shape, or maybe they install their toilet paper over instead of under.
So many little differences that can make the experience weird and off-putting.

But that's just normal bathrooms.

It's especially weird when said person is so rich that their bathroom alone is bigger than your entire house.

Even more so when they're so old and eccentric you can't tell the artsy decor from the functional fixtures.

...this is a bathroom, right?

Written for the Dumb as Doornails Contest.

Update: Now the first place winner of said contest!

Try as she and her sister might Luna is still an unwanted Diarch in modern Canterlot. Her crimes not so easily forgotten Luna's court remains empty every night, her only company guards and maids paid wages to tolerate obeisance to her. What is she to do? What can she do? With every pony in Canterlot jumping at her merest shadow waiting is the only option afforded to her.

What she would give for just a chance, something to prove to all that their Princess only wanted to help, to wipe Nightmare from their dreams and earn their trust. Would it matter who gives her that chance?

The world never needed Sunset Shimmer and it will will continue to live without her.

Ditzy has had a life full of love and sorrow. She's trying to provide a good life for her daughter Dinky, but when things go from bad to worse, Ditzy makes a decision that no one should ever have to make.

Trixie experiments with a new kind of smoke bomb for her magic shows, much to Starlight's dismay.

Thanks to the very cool ThePeer for prereading!

Written for the Dumb As Doornails Competition!