Twilight has been researching something sinister since the rise of the Crystal Empire. The Changeling invasion was what threw her over the edge.
Years of studying under Princess Celestia made Twilight feel like she was the right hoof of god, but two events so close to each other have altered her perceptions of the way her life once was and she sees the truth at last.
Since the Changeling Invasion, Twilight has lived a lie, and after the Rise of the Crystal Empire, it's only gotten worse. With betrayal in her heart and mind, and darkness in her veins, Twilight has begun researching into something unspeakable, something new to Equestria, something that will make everypony she ever knew shudder at the thought of it. Twilight, has begun to experiment with raising the dead.
Rated M for gore and sex. Picture belongs to someone. Find him using Jack Sparrow's compass, because I sure can't.
My research into the genetic manipulation of deceased organisms shows continued promise. While I’ve yet to go beyond what I believe to be the safe zone and manipulate anything larger than a dead bird, I’ve full confidence that should the need arise, I could resurrect a full grown pony.
Interesting note; I resurrected a moth exactly one month and three days ago. Oddly enough, it shouldn’t have lived for more than three weeks. I’ve taken the liberty of cutting off its air supply and yet it still flutters around as though fully oxygenated. Such observations lead me to believe that the moth is in fact dead and is only surviving on the energy that I am feeding it. On a sad note, Owluicious died last week, but now he is helping keep Spike distracted during my research hours. I can’t afford to let him in on what I am doing here. While I’ve taken the necessary measures to ensure I don’t get caught, I am not so smug as to believe that it is impossible, and should such an occurrence happen, I want him to have the benefit of deniability.
It’s been three years since I began researching this field of magic, and while I have no doubt even Discord himself would be against it, reformed or otherwise, I must continue. I have reason to believe that perhaps the Princesses are hiding something from pony kind… Such is a thought I am uncomfortable with. My trust in Celestia alone is faltered by this possibility. The direction in which I am going could have led to the birth of Nightmare Moon all those centuries ago, it may also explain the Princecces’ immortality. Despite public opinion, they are not gods. This was proven to me when Chrysalis defeated Celestia with ease the day of my brother’s wedding. Were the Princesses gods, they would not have been so easily bested by an overgrown insect. I suppose I blame Chrysalis for more than what she put me and my friends and family through, but I blame her for opening my eyes to the Princesses' limits. While I respect Celestia as a teacher, and am good friends with Luna, I still yearn for the good old days when I believed them both to be invincible. But sadly, I know better now and this is why I must pursue this path that has opened itself to me.
Though a pursuer of the evolution of magic himself, I am confident Starswirl the bearded would shun this line of research also…
“Twilight, hurry up, we have to prepare for the funeral.” the voice of Spike reached my ears as I jotted down some choice thoughts in my journal. I looked up from what I was doing and turned to look at the doorway where his voice had come through. Fortunately, he wasn’t there. I sighed with relief and jotted a quick note before closing the book and hiding it away.
“Coming Spike!” I called back to him, grabbing a small necklace and throwing it into my hidden pocket. I ran up the stairs to join the now meter tall dragon, wearing his best suit.
“Come on, Twilight, I know it’s Trixie’s funeral, but you still shouldn’t be late to it. She regarded you as her greatest challenge after all, you should take pride in that.”
I rolled my eyes at Spike’s attempt to generalise Trixie’s departure. While I was going to her funeral for my own reasons, I had no doubt that Spike and my friends were going to gloat at her untimely death; perhaps not publically, but in their own minds, except maybe Rainbow Dash, whose brash attitude may result in the undoing of the upcoming funeral.
“I may have been her enemy, Spike, but she was not mine. I admired her persistence, but in the end, I knew she was just trying to be as good as me if not better. An impossible dream though it turned out to be.” I said, keeping a professional and impartial tone to my voice. Spike remained silent, undoubtedly thinking my statement harsh and colder than the body we were going to pay our respects to.
The funeral went about as well as could have been expected. While Trixie had no friends or family, there were a select few who noticed some redeeming qualities within her. I was one such entity. I’d told everypony how I respected her desire to better herself and how I was honoured to have been her goal throughout the latter half of her life. Most of what I’d told them all was just tripe to fill in the allotted time, but I’d gotten very good at lying over the past year. Trixie’s will had been read out by myself and it was revealed that she requested I bury her in the ground myself. While others found it difficult to allow, I found it to be a great opportunity.
That night, I stood next to the coffin, the hole across it from myself. I opened the lid of the casing to reveal the beautified features of the mare who had wanted to defeat me for five years. I removed the necklace from the hidden pocket above my breast and placed it around Trixie’s neck. With a light glow from my horn, I tapped the pendant on the necklace and the crystals lit up, revealing a pentagram shape of sorts glowing a bright red over a golden base.
I whispered some incoherent words that would have made no sense to the untrained and within a few seconds, the light faded and Trixie gasped for air, sitting up in the coffin a moment later. I could see she was stunned and unsure of what had happened. Looking at her back, which had been hidden beforehoof, I saw the scars that had been recently stitched closed. She checked herself over, feeling herself to make sure she was still alive. She even went so far as to touch herself to make sure she could still feel… things. Her hooves rested on the amulet I’d outfitted her with. It wasn’t until she looked around at her surroundings that she noticed me and nearly screamed in horror.
“Twilight Sparkle! How dare you barge into… wait, no. What am I doing here, out in the open… in a coffin… with a body colder than the frozen mountains in the north? Oh Celestia, I’m dead!” I admit it was amusing to see her come to the conclusion herself.
“Yes, but it’s nice to know that you checked for perspective activities the moment you awoke.” I said, shifting my gaze to her highly visible nethers. If she could blush, I imagine she would have.
“Trixie always sits up this way!” she cried defensively.
“Giving your patty a bit of an airing? Very wise.” I retort, leaning towards the corpse that shied away from me.
“Twilight, how is any of this possible? I died… I felt my life slip away in that cave.” she dropped the shyness and switched to desire, specifically, the desire for answers. It was no use hiding the truth from her.
“It’s called resurrection. I brought you back to life thanks to the help of that amulet around your neck. It’s called the Amulet of Sion. Usually with resurrection, the resurrected has to feed off of the magical residue the… host exudes. And knowing you, you’d undoubtedly find it an insult to survive off of the residue of my magical energy, so I found this instead. All it requires is a touch of my magic to activate and you can survive off of it instead of me. Call it a gift for being my first pony experiment.”
I watched as Trixie’s mind absorbed the information… slowly. She uttered gibberish as she collected choice words from my speech. I could tell when she rested on experiment by the rise of her ears and the widening of her eyes.
“Experiment?!” she demanded. I nodded and helped her out of the coffin. “What have you gotten yourself into, Twilight Sparkle?” she asked. I ignored her for a minute as I closed the coffin and shoved it into the hole, proceeding to bury the empty casket.
“Just some experimental magic that would undoubtedly be labelled as illegal with the mere suggestion of its components.” I replied. Trixie grinned sheepishly.
“So that means if anypony found out about what you were doing, you could get into some serious trouble?” I knew where she was going with this, but I planned ahead.
“Yes, but just remember who it is that’s pulling your strings right now, Trixie. One little incantation and that amulet becomes nothing more than a paperweight and you drop dead, literally. So you could finally get revenge against me, but you’d have no time to enjoy it.” Trixie abandoned the subject and remained silent for another few seconds.
“Why me, Twilight?” she asked. I began to lead her back to the Library. Despite the fact that I knew Spike would likely see her, I had a contingency plan. Should the need arise, I could disguise her as somepony else.
“There are two reasons I chose you that made you the perfect choice.” I started. Trixie listened intently, though I knew she wouldn’t like either one of them. “Firstly, I chose you because you’d just died and your funeral was exactly what I needed.” she seemed put down, but that mattered little to me. As far as I was concerned, she was little more than a corpse, a shadow of her former self.
“And the other reason?” she asked, the hope in her eyes and voice was stagnating as I almost wished I could have thought of something to cheer her up.
“The second reason was because I needed somepony that wouldn’t be missed by others, wouldn’t be remembered by anypony unless they’d managed to piss them off enough. Again, you.” I heard the slightest whimper as her ears fell behind her and her eyes took on that childish pouting look. With a defeated sigh, I came up with a hypothetical third reason.
“I suppose another reason was because I’m nostalgic. While you spent your life trying to become better than me, it’s sad to have it just end out of stupidity. While I’m calling you an experiment, I suppose in truth, you’re more of a colleague now; a partner in the research I’m conducting. Maybe next time you’ll think twice before trying to take on an Ursa Major outside of your fables.” Trixie seemed to brighten at my statement and hold as I mentioned what killed her in the first place.
“Do not expect Trixie to thank you.” she said defiantly. I shrugged it off.
“Your thanks, or lack thereof have no weight in the long run. Grateful or not, it doesn’t change the fact that you belong to me now. So you can either struggle and be an experiment as was intended, or you can co-operate with me and help me further my research.” I said. She seemed to surrender to her fate, but I decided to give her one last clarification before giving in.
“Either way, you can be replaced as an experiment by many other long dead beings, but you could be invaluable as a research partner, but not critical to the end game.”
“You’re confusing Trixie with your word play.” she replied. I sighed, revealing some frustration in it.
“I can see I’m going to have to teach you the game before you can play.” I said.
As we reached the Library, I stopped her before she went to open the front door. She looked at me with an expression of confusion on her face.
“Now before we go in, Spike doesn’t know about what it is I’m doing, and he’s not allowed to know, understood?” Trixie nodded and proceeded towards the door before I stopped her again.
“That means hiding you from everypony.” I added. Trixie took the chance to ridicule me.
“Well it’s a good thing you took me to a public library; nopony will ever see me there.” she teased. I smacked her on the nose, shutting her up as she scrunched it, stunned by the action.
“I’m going to place a camouflage on you, you dingbat. Now to make you look the least like yourself, I’m thinking contrast colours to your current form. Maroon coat with an ebony mane.” I began.
“Ew, no! Black and red has long since been out of fashion. I’m sure your designer friend would be the first to tell you. No, perhaps keep the black mane, but give me a powder yellow coat.” she said. I raised a brow at her.
“So you basically want to be a black-maned Fluttershy?” I watched as her mind tried to work out who Fluttreshy was. When she matched my friend’s face with the name, she smiled and nodded.
“Oh yes. Despite our differences, I’ve always felt Fluttershy’s natural beauty to be just one more thing to be envious about.” she replied. I recalled a previous event involving one of Trixie’s visits.
“So that’s why you over-endowed her pet rabbit. You wanted to see if her beauty ranged beyond the sentient lifeforms.” I clarified.
“You saw the results for yourself.” Trixie replied with a malicious grin.
“Yes, even today I’m still trying to un-see it.” I placed a hoof to Trixie’s chest and ignited my horn. A hexagram appeared from under my hoof and rotated outward, expanding to cover her chest. It glowed for a moment before resting as a giant cutie mark on her breast.
“There you go. I’d say you look just like her, only I can’t actually see the camouflage.” I said. Trixie’s face turned unsure.
“Maybe it didn’t work… could it be a dud? Maybe it won’t work on the dead.” she said. I dismissed such thoughts as I shook my head.
“It’s designed for the dead. But I guess there’s only one way to find out if it really works.” I opened the door to find Spike sweeping something off the floor.
“Spike! What did you break this time?” I asked, dropping my stern personality in front of him and Trixie both.
“Sorry Twilight, I’m still getting used to my tail. It doesn’t help that I grew another six inches overnight.” he replied.
“I thought you looked taller at Trixie’s funeral today.” I said casually, stepping aside to allow Trixie through. Spike noticed her and stopped what he was doing.
“Who’s your friend, Twilight? Out-of-towner?” he asked. I smiled and nodded, sneaking a victorious glance over at Trixie who shared it with me.
“Yes, her name’s….” I quickly looked her over to give myself an idea of a name. Her cutie mark ended up giving me the title. It was a six pointed star like my own, only it resided within a circle and was more of a black outline than anything else. “…Hex! Pentacle! Hex Pentacle. She’s been in… Abrika, studying Zebra magic.” Spike seemed impressed by her brief history and waved at her, eliciting a wave back from Trixie.
“Nice, I’ll bet you and Zecora will have loads to talk about.” he said. Hex (Trixie) looked over at me with a puzzled look on her face.
“Zecora?” she asked, feigning a soft and calm voice.
“Yeah, she’s a zebra who lives in the Everfree forest. She’s helped us out a few times actually. We ran into a bind with the poison joke flowers, and Zecora had the antidote, then there was the bother with Trixie Lulamoon and how she cheated by using the Alicorn Amulet. Zecora tried to help me get stronger, but I ultimately failed that.” I noticed Trixie’s angry expression at the word ‘cheated’ and cleared my throat.
“Uh, anyway. Hex is going to be staying with us until further notice, Spike. She’s offered to help me with my research, which will endeavour to lighten your workload greatly.” I said.
“What, you thinking of combining zebra and pony magic or something?” he asked. The concept was a delicious one indeed, so much so I nodded and grinned at them both.
“Yep! It’s going to be so much fun too. I said, clopping my hooves together. Hex mimicked my reaction and extended a hoof, motioning for me to lead the way to the study. I did so and she followed close behind, the smile glued to her face… until the door closed.
“Cheated?! That amulet was a legitimate object that fulfilled its purpose at the time, that’s hardly called cheating. I’d have called it resourcefulness.” she protested.
“So you resorted to an all-powerful relic to defeat me instead of doing it of your own free power. Yes, I can see the respect the others would have for you… flittering away into dreamland when they find out it isn’t all you.” I snapped. Trixie found no retort, but simply crossed here hooves and looked away from me like a spoiled little filly who had been scolded.
“So what is this bloody research you’re doing? You’ve told me nothing about it other than the fact it involves resurrection.” she said, looking back to me. I opened my hidden drawer and pulled out my personal journal.
“Read this. Just the first entry to get a good idea of the name of the subject.” she took the journal in her hooves and opened to the first page.
“What’s this? Grimoire du crépuscule?” she asked.
“It’s Prench. It means ‘Grimoire of Twilight’. Though I suppose I should amend the title.” I replied. I watched as Trixie flicked over the title page and began to read the first passage.
Personal log: Entry no. 1
It has come to my attention that there is more to magic than what we already know. More than the legends speak of, I believe there is magic that not even the Princesses have tapped as of yet. I wish to reach that point of no return. Ever since the cascade involving the Crystal Empire and King Sombra, I’ve been wondering if there’s even more to magic than even the oldest of ponies know. More to magic than Discord can control. Healing, and teleportation are some of the basic laws of magic, including creation to a limited extend. It is possible to create inanimate objects, though much easier to teleport already existing objects. It is also possible to create life forms such as plant life and basic insects.
However, I believe there is another section of magic yet untapped, and that it is a force darker than that of Crystal magic. While I fear for my safety and the safety of my friends, my hunger for knowledge drives me on.
Ever since that moment when I was trapped in that crystal barrier, I thought about what it would be like to have broken the rules. And this is what I will do. If I am to die for researching such darkness, then let me live a little beforehand. I will turn my life into a lie and abandon Celestia’s teachings. Her limitations have been made painstakingly clear to me four months ago. But I will not think of the past yet. Now, I must look toward the future. Transportation, Creation, Healing, Containment… these are but four pieces of five. The fifth shall be Resurrection, life after death and immortality. Perhaps I will even surpass my teacher as history has shown they take pride in such achievements.
My name is Twilight Sparkle… and I am a Necromancer.
As Trixie read the scripture, she looked up to reveal I had been wearing contact lenses to hide the true eyes that had been altered through the morality of my magic. No longer the beautiful violet eyes that Trixie herself envied, my eyes were aglow with a fiery red, and my sclera blackened like my faith in my old teacher. I could see the fear in Trixie's eyes as she saw me for what I truly had become: a Necromancer.
Three days with Trixie disguised as Hex have gone by swimmingly. Over the course of those three days, she has learned to drop the third-person context. The first day was spent trying to catch her up in my progress so far, which included letting her read this logbook. The second day involved practical experimentation of her magical abilities. Fortunately, she retained her power even in death; which leads me to wonder if the magic of a unicorn is actually tied in part to the body, rather than the soul as everypony believes, though it’s more likely that the Amulet of Sion did more than resurrect her, but also returned her soul to her body. Yesterday was more difficult. Introducing her to my friends as somepony else proved difficult, seeing as how I still perceive her as Trixie, I almost blew her cover a few times. Fortunately, my friends remain none the wiser, and Trixie seems happier now she has friends, despite her previous relationship with them.
On the down side, Pinkie’s hosting a welcoming party for ‘Hex’ and it occurred to me that I would have to get Trixie a present. I noticed something missing from her when I brought her back and I thought that some old amenities of hers would go a long way to gaining her trust. I plan to give them to her before the party so as not to arouse suspicion amongst the others, or ‘outsiders’ as Trixie has feverishly taken to calling them. When I say feverishly, I mean I like the notion of calling them that also, yet I restrain myself out of respect to them… but not for long.
It’s public knowledge now that ‘Hex’ is helping me with some private research and so as an added gift for the party, I’ll be giving her ‘Grimoire du Trixie’ (Insert chuckle). As my fellow researcher, it only makes sense that she should have a logbook of her own.
Returning to the research topics, I believe Trixie has made terrific progress in picking up the pace. Though she isn’t quite as interested as I am when it comes to the researching, the desire to be better (than me probably) keeps her going. With that in mind, I believe it may be time to introduce her to the practical laboratory. Needless to say I’m not foolish enough to practice such dark magic in my own basement.
My secondary objective is to make Trixie an independent being, in other words, to bring her back to life fully without the aid of the Amulet or anything else. Then she too could become a necromancer like myself. Just thinking of the possibilities makes me giddy… and for some reason, the thought of creating a necromancer from the dead makes me strangely aroused…hmm. I’ll have to think on that later this evening, after Pinkie’s party…
I closed the logbook and hid it in the hidden drawer. I then proceeded to look at the box with the ribbon around it. Trixie’s pre-party present. I heard the door on the latch open and I quickly slid the hidden drawer shut and out of sight. To my relief, Trixie descended, seeming unusually cheery.
“Twilight.” she addressed me. It took her only a moment to notice the box, with it’s blue cover and sliver ribbon, matching her ‘real’ colours. I smiled as she went wide-eyed.
“Twilight… is that for… me?” she asked, pointing her hoof at the box, then to herself as she spoke. I just grinned widely and nodded, reaching over to grab the present and… present it to her. She was speechless as she took it by the sides, gawking at it like it were her wildest fantasy come true (such as me lying dead in front of her or something).
“I… I don’t know what to say… I’ve never been given anything before, at least not without having to give something in exchange… thank you.” she said with as much modesty as she could muster.
“In the profession, we call that Alchemy.” I jested. As she began to neatly open the present, trying not to tear the wrapping, I spoke up. “It’s just a small thing, but I thought you’d appreciate it. I’d have given it to you at the party, but… well you’ll probably find out why that would be a bad idea.” Trixie paused as she laid her eyes upon the gift inside the box. Without saying a word, she pulled out her magician’s hat and her cape examining them with disbelief.
“I thought these were destroyed when the Ursa Major attacked me.” she said.
“They were, but I had them restored. That’s what remains of the original inlayed into new fabric. They should be identical to the original hat and cape you used to wear.” I clarified, watching her reaction. It wasn’t what I expected. She began to tear up and as she dropped them back into the box, she fell onto her haunches and began to cry. Instinctively, I ran to her side as though she were one of my friends crying. She wrapped herself around me and cried into my shoulder, much to my discomfort.
“Perhaps nostalgia’s not the best gift after all.” I said, trying to lighten the mood. She squeezed me tighter.
“No, Twilight… I love the gift, but it just sank in this moment… I’m dead and I’m masquerading as somepony else and I won’t ever get to wear these again.” I understood now why she was suffering during a happy moment; torn between delight at the gift and agony over what it represented, she realised the cold hard truth that she was little more than a zompony. I consoled her and rubbed her back to try and make her feel better, which seemed to work to a degree. An idea hit me as I ran through what she’d said about never wearing those items of clothing again. Not one to spoil a surprise, I simply smiled at her with a kind-hearted warmth to it and helped her up.
“Trixie, you’re as alive as you want to be, and someday, you won’t need the amulet to live anymore because I’m going to see what I can do about fully resurrecting you.” I said. The possibility breached her mind and she destroyed the sadness she was displaying in an instant. I could see it in her eyes that she had begun to think we were best friends. While she didn’t say anything, I knew that was what she was thinking, but I wasn’t on that page just yet. However, to spare her more tears and embarrassment, I said nothing about it, letting her believe I shared the same feeling as her.
“Thank you, Twilight… Oh look at me, bawling my eyes out in front of you of all ponies. I’m so ashamed.” she began. I shook my head with as modest an expression as I could manage.
“Don’t be. Come on; let’s get you to your welcoming party. I wonder what Pinkie’s themed it after?” I asked, citing a chuckle from the mare.
I led Trixie to Applejack’s barn, where it was decided that all the future parties would be held because of its spacious interior and the fact that it was free compared to the town hall. My cousin, Vinyl Scratch was kind enough to be the DJ once again, Ponyville being the second most frequented gig site for her. As I opened the barn doors to let her through, the darkness overwhelmed us. A second later, light blinded us and a single word deafened us for a few moments.
“SURPRISE!!!” ponies came out of the woodwork to celebrate ‘Hex’s’ arrival. She was overly stunned by the sudden appearance of Ponyville’s occupants that she went so far as to hug me for protection, but after realising the truth, that hug for protection became a hug of gratitude as she began to get into the swing of things. Turned out that Pinkie went with the Zebrika theme because of her supposed previous research. Trixie and I shared a laugh at that. Throughout the party, I managed to watch her like a hawk, observing her social interactions with a dexterous eye. I excluded myself from the party mostly, just content to watching Trixie socialise. She seemed to be doing pretty well, even getting Vinyl’s attention as she did what she did best. Games and activities went much better than Gilda’s and I found myself immersed in pride as my experiment was proving to be a huge success. I made a mental note not to refer to Trixie as an experiment either in person or in the logbook, for she could have curious eyes when it came to that book. I began to think that perhaps bringing Trixie back was a good thing for more than my research, but for me as well. Needless to say I cared about how she felt towards everything, but at first, I thought that was just because I was worried about her blowing our cover. But as I thought about it, I began to think that we were indeed friends, though I still hadn’t reached the best friend page yet.
My train of thought was interrupted by the final activity of the day, the presents. I found myself standing by her side as she began to open the first present. From Rarity, it was a beautiful zebra patterned scarf (not made from actual zebra, thank goodness). Trixie wasted no time wrapping it around herself. Watching her, I suddenly felt the temperature in the barn was freezing. I stifled a shudder as she opened the next one.
Shoddily wrapped, I knew this was from Rainbow Dash. I began to feel like another Mare-do-well intervention was due when the present revealed a signed photograph of Rainbow Dash. Trixie just laughed good-naturedly at the funny gift and hugged the Pegasus accordingly. I flashed an instant venomous look at her as she asked me to hold the stupid thing. But keeping up appearances, the look only lasted a second.
Fluttershy’s gift was something that could have proven useful in our research. A dark grey baby bunny rabbit wrapped in a nice warm blanket greeted Trixie, and her cute response made me think again about experimentation. Trixie proceeded to take the baby bunny from its warm box and blanket and tucked it in between her neck and the scarf Rarity had given her. Despite the possibility of it falling out, it was a cute sight to behold.
Pinkie Pie’s gift was surprisingly well thought out. Knowing for a fact that animal bones were used in most Zebra magic, Trixie received a Dragoon bone hairbrush. Dragoons were the Zebrikan equivalent of Equestrian whales. Basically sea dragons, the Dragoon was the number one underwater predator and very difficult to kill outside of the fishing profession. Trixie dared to brush her mane a few times, straightening it after the party had ruffled it a bit. I was then given the honour of holding onto it as well.
Applejack got her a year’s supply of free apples. The number of apples was dependent on how many apples she’d want from the farm within the year. Having gotten to know Trixie pretty well, I knew she loved apples and secretly loved the Apple Family’s apples the most. I felt a twinge of jealousy as I began to wonder where my year’s supply of apples went the year I came to Ponyville. I made a mental note to tease Applejack about that later on.
My present was next. Though its importance seemed rather diminished to me after comparing it to all the other gifts (Rainbow Dash’s gift excluded), Trixie seemed to like it all the same. “I promise you I’m going to make good use of this over the course of our time together.” she said. I smiled at her as she made my effort feel appreciated. The gifts from the rest of Ponyville were trivial things, though Vinyl’s album of Zebrikan music stuck out like Scootaloo in a chicken farm, just making itself known apart from the rest.
As the party came to a close, I managed to tease Applejack about the apples, which recited a nervous blush from the usually iron-willed Earth pony.
“Uh, s-sorry Twi… It’s just that business wasn’t as… successful as it is now, so we couldn’t afford to give ya the same courtesy, y’know?” I had her backed against the barn door. Had I not been wearing my contact lenses, I was sure they would have been glowing with excitement at my superiority in the situation. I chuckled and rested my hoof on her shoulder.
“That’s alright, AJ. I completely understand. Clearly you have a thing for yellow ponies.” I began to walk away as she caught on to my insinuation and began to stumble over her words.
“N-no, that ain't why–.”
“Ooh, maybe it’s a sister complex? You love your sister so much you want a pony just like her, gender and all.” I continued to tease her. She brought her Stetson over her face to hide the huge blush. It occurred to me that she didn’t deny it and I knew I had her. She was putty in my hooves, a good source of potential research into the sub-emotions of love.” I gently whispered into her ear with a sly tone to my voice.
“Don’t worry about it AJ. I swear not to tell as soul. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” I finished it off with a Pinkie Promise. AJ just continued to bury her face into her Stetson. I heard the muffled gratitude as I leaned in closer.
“No matter what, Applejack, you’re still one of my closest friends.” I whispered, proceeding to depart. Trixie had waited for me at the entrance to the barn.
“What kept you?” she asked. I shrugged and smiled with a sinister look on my face.
“Just creating a new branch of research.” I replied, giving the little bunny in her scarf a gentle pat. It yawned at me and I almost found it too cute to want to experiment on; almost.
“I’m surprised Spike’s not back yet.” Trixie said as we entered the Library. I turned the lights on, igniting the lanterns and looked around at the state of the Library to make sure everything was where I’d left it.
“Yeah, he’s gone to an after party with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. He’s developing feelings for Applebloom.” I replied, then an idea struck me. “Oh, research into love triangles!” I blurted out.
“Okay, I think you need to relax, you’re beginning to consider research into trivial life matters now.” Trixie said. I yawned, agreeing fully with her.
“Mm. But before I do, there’s one last thing I want to show you. You’ll want to take your hat and cape along too.” I replied, leading her back to the basement. I watched as she actually donned the clothes over her scarf. Even I knew that the two clashed hideously with each other, but I said nothing.
“Alright, take a look at this.” I said, motioning to the wall on the far end of the basement. On it was a seven pointed star-glyph drawn in chalk. On each of the points of the star was a symbol of specific meaning.
I observed Trixie’s less than excited reaction. Clearly, she wasn’t aware of the importance of the glyph.
“It’s a Necromancy symbol.” I said dumbly. Trixie raised her brows and nodded, still not seeing the importance of it.
“Yeah, and? What’s so special about this particular symbol?” she asked.
“This one has seven points to it. Normal glyphs only have five or six, so this one serves a special purpose which I discovered has to do with the six basic principles of travel.” I explained. Trixie seemed intrigued now as I went on. “The six principles are as follows: distance, duration, height, amount, endurance and atmosphere. But as I pondered the dilemma with the spare point, I realised that there was a seventh principle not yet discovered; ‘destination’.” Trixie’s eyes lit up as she began to comprehend what I was getting at.
“You mean this glyph is…”
“Yep! A method to create interdimensional doors. In short,”
“It’s a portal!” she finished for me. As I smiled at her, I released a bit of my magic into the glyph and although the star was chalk, it rotated and opened up from the centre, revealing the familiar scene of the old Castle of the sisters, where my friends and I faced off against Nightmare Moon all those years ago. There were some obvious changes, which Trixie began to see as she followed me through the portal. It was literally like stepping into another room. There was no feeling from the doorway as we stepped through except for the slight shift in temperature from one room to the other.
The throne room was outfitted with some basic scientific equipment and although it was simple equipment, it was abundant.
“How did you get all of this?” Trixie asked as she looked around at all the amenities.
“Princess Celestia funds me for my studies and although I can survive on the Library’s wages alone, I still invested in what you see here.” I replied. Trixie smiled an open smile as she continued to circle around, unable to take enough of the place in. After a moment, she looked down to her pet bunny in her scarf and grinned.
“Oh I can’t wait for you to grow old and die. We’ll have so much more fun afterward.” It was at that moment that I turned the page. Trixie was thinking exactly what I had thought when I first saw the bunny. It was a potential experiment. Now we were on the same page; now I considered her my best friend. With that in my mind, I felt my eyes glow from beneath my contacts and I saw in one of the mirrors, that the red was seeping through the violet tint.
With Trixie acting as my partner and Applejack’s incestuous desires under my hoof, my research is going smoothly. I’ve taken measures to use AJ as a research subject. Combining a sound barrier with regular tranquilisers, Trixie’s been given a subject to practice on. Naturally because AJ is one of my closest friends, I worry about her. As a result, I’ve doubled the dose on the tranquilisers and given her a general anaesthetic, testing for compatibility between the two.
I’ve drip-fed fantasies about Applebloom in her dreams and watched as her heart rate accelerated. She truly does love her sister; some would say too much, but love is love and who am I to get in its way? If anything, resurrection would potentially help love to last longer, but here I go talking as though emotions are physical entities.
It’s becoming a little scary as Princess Celestia has heard mumblings of murders occurring around Equestria. While I am not responsible for these murders, I fear that an investigation could lead the princesses to everything I’ve done. This, I cannot allow for two reasons; one reason is because of the research itself. The other reason is Trixie. I am uncertain as to whether or not the camouflage will fool the princesses and if it doesn’t, she will undoubtedly be destroyed like an offending object with me following close behind.
I simulated some situations where I might be imprisoned. While it’s easy to escape the chains, the bars are a little more complex. But I discovered a way out nonetheless by avoiding the bars altogether. While they are magically protected, the floor and roof are not. Destroying either would create an exit, however, it could possibly harm me were I in the wrong place when destroying them.
I believe Trixie also sees the impending possibility and worries for both of us also. While I appreciate it, I do have a scapegoat of sorts, although I’d rather not waste my life with execution so soon into our research.
Speaking of research, Applejack’s reactions to my images of her sister have shown promise as it turns out that some forms of Earth Pony magic rely heavily on the emotions of the pony. As a result, Applejack grows stronger when she feels she needs the strength, which would likely be in a situation where Applebloom or Macintosh is in danger. I’d have pitted this up to adrenaline, but it’s something more. Adapting this to Necromancy, I found a way to resurrect the dead and give them a significant increase in strength. Owlowiscious now carries five times his own body weight, which would be the equivalent of two bags of salt or forty kilograms. He’s a heavy owl, but that’s just muscle. I daren’t tamper with Trixie’s body any further. Adding to the enchantment the Amulet of Sion is producing could cause catastrophic events, and I’d rather not lose my best friend…
I paused as I wrote those last words. It still felt strange to me, labelling Trixie Lulamoon as my best friend. Somehow it didn’t feel quite right, as though the relationship between us was incomplete. I recalled the previous entry and remembered that the idea of another necromancer made me feel aroused. When I thought of another necromancer, Trixie’s image came up, and that same feeling emerged. I tried to imagine somepony else as a necromancer. Rarity? No effect. Fluttershy? Nope. A clone? Almost!... Applebloom? Thank Celestia no.
I ran through faces I knew, but Trixie’s was the only one that truly aroused me. Princess Luna as a necromancer made me shudder with delight, but hardly aroused me.
“Oh dear lord, I’m gay.” I muttered to myself as I searched for another topic to write in my log. Before I could even muster a thought, Trixie interrupted me by opening the door to the basement.
“Twilight, breakfast is–.”
“GAH!!!” I screamed, surprised by her sudden appearance. I fell off my stool and landed funnily on my back. “Oww.” I groaned, looking up at her.
“Are you alright?” she asked. The last thing I wanted was for her to see me in such a state, so I told her I was fine. “Alright, well Breakfast is ready so prepare yourself for the great and culinary… Hex.” the name seemed deadpanned as she built up the title. I managed a chuckle, but it was cut short by the pain searing through my spine. Fortunately, she was gone. I steadied myself into a roll to straighten myself up. Then I dared to stand which met with disappointing results. I’d thrown out my back. It was utterly humiliating. I wasn’t even that old. Sadly, I knew that age had nothing to do with it.
“I’m getting stressed.” I muttered as I wobbled up the steps to the door.
The smell wafted into my senses and it made me glad to be alive. Trixie had cooked my favourite, which coincidentally was her favourite as well; mashed potatoes with chopped hay fried on a pan to make a variant of bubble and squeak. I felt my mouth watering on the inside, not only because of the food but taking into account my sudden revelation, seeing Trixie Standing next to my breakfast in an apron added to my salivating. While I may have once been one to deny such feelings, as a virgin at twenty seven, I wasn’t going to be picky, besides, it felt good to find her attractive.
“Smells divine.” I said, composing myself and walking up to her. She decided to play a little joke.
“Ah, Rarity, good morning! Help yourself to Twilight’s breakfast since she won’t come out of the basement.”
I rolled my eyes at her and sat down. Thank Celestia I wasn’t researching in the closet. She sat across from me and waited for me to take the first bite. As I did, the taste made itself known to me.
“How is it?” she asked.
Crap.
“Delicious!” I lied, chewing on the bland breakfast. It may have tasted like shit, but at least it would feed me. Trixie smiled and began on her own breakfast. Her response was one I wanted to make. She spat the food back on the plate and made a disgusted and surprised face.
“This is gross!” she exclaimed. I sighed with relief and dropped the contents in my own mouth back onto the plate.
“Did you use salt?” I asked her. She shook her head.
“Flour.” she replied. I nearly coughed up a lung. Flour? What were you thinking?! I sighed at her and shook my head.
“Don’t quit your day job.” I said, taking the plates and binning the contents. An idea came to mind and I struggled not to do a Rarity and say the word. “How about we go out for breakfast? I know a great restaurant.” Trixie seemed to light up at the notion and grabbed her scarf, her bunny having become a permanent addition to it by default. Research into the animal revealed it to be a Zebrikan hare. By research, I meant asking Fluttershy about its species.
I smiled with glee as she took my idea as a good one and we went together to the famous restaurant: ‘The Mare’s Lair’. On the way we ran into Angel bunny trying to carve a vertical line in the wall of a disused building with a stick. There were roughly seventeen attempts prior to this one along the wall’s base.
“What’s Angel doing?” Trixie asked, presuming I’d know the answer. Fortunately, I did.
“So he’s doing it again, is he?”
“Again?”
“I put an experimental spell on him. It’s like Mind control, only the subject is conscious of it and hears the order as a mental suggestion. I tested it on Angel to see how long it would last without my direct influence. He’ll be doing that every day during the hours Fluttershy usually rests. She usually doesn’t get up for another hour. Figured that out when I went to her place one morning to borrow a pet for research on. She’s not a happy pony when she’s woken up.” I rubbed my horn at the memory of her mood swing. Trixie and I watched as he finished up and threw the stick away, then proceeded to look about as if he were wondering why he were there.
“Mind control, huh?” Trixie said, looking to me with suspicious eyes.
“Yes, and no I haven’t done it to you. Though you wouldn’t really know I had unless I told you.” I said, moving on from the disgruntled bunny. Trixie followed behind.
The Mare’s Lair was a popular restaurant with a brothel-like theme to it. The Stallions and Mares working there were all beautiful and handsome. As it was mainly a mare exclusive restaurant with the exception of gay Stallions, the uniforms were somewhat demeaning towards the opposite gender. The stallions wore leather that revealed a lot, just short of the goods. The mares wore tight clothing that added curvature to their flanks. I tested my theory and certainly found myself aroused. Trixie seemed surprised by the theme, more so that I took her to such a place.
“Figured you’d enjoy having slaves answering your every command.” I mused. She was silent and I watched as she looked around to every member of staff. I hoped she would take an interest in the appeal of the mares, though sadly she seemed more interested in the hidden packages. “Don’t let this place fool you, the food is great.” I added. She dropped out of her glazed trance into the land of the bollocks and looked at me.
“How did you get into this place?” she asked. I chuckled and waved one of the staff over.
“My cousin has a coltfriend here.” I said. The alleged coltfriend greeted me with a wide grin; his butter yellow coat and cloudy white mane made him stick out from the rest of the rabble.
“Twilight! So good to see you again. It’s been a while since you came here last. And who’s this with you?” he asked. I knew he was straight, but he had the gayest voice this side of Equestria.
“Hello Twisty, this is my friend, Hex. Hex, meet Twisty Knob, one of Vinyl Scratch’s many coltfriends. Twisty grinned and waved hilariously at Trixie who had ceased to think after hearing the second part of his name.
“Twi honey, I think you broke her.” Twisty said, waving his hoof in front of her face.
“She’s just a virgin to this place. She’ll loosen up.”
“She’s handling it a lot better than you did your first time. You screamed and ran out of here like sweet Fluttershy when she sees a dragon.” I blushed at the memory.
“How is Fluttershy coping?” I asked. Twisty shrugged and added a sigh.
“She’s still a little uncertain about having an older brother who enjoys this line of work let alone owns such a place, but we manage from time to time. It’s not easy having your little sister scared of you.” I took a moment to allow the air to pass between us. As expected, he dropped the subject and proceeded to serve us. “So, how can I help you two today?”
“Table for two, and we’d like the bubble and squeak with hay.” I replied. Twisty grinned goofily and led us to a small table just the right size for us and helped Trixie situate herself. She looked like she’d been kicked up the ass and was frozen in disbelief.
“Any drinks?” Twisty asked. Given Trixie’s speechlessness, I ordered a jug of applejuice and two glasses. It was as Twisty was walking away that his sassy sway brought Trixie out of her trance.
“Knob! Twisty Knob!” she blurted out, attracting the attention of the patrons closest to us. I covered her mouth with my hoof. She cringed in on herself as she realised what had happened.
“Sorry Twilight… how can you stand to be in such a place? I always thought you were the type of mare who… shied away from this kind of crowd.” she whispered so as not to offend. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders.
“When I first began researching you know what, I couldn’t stomach the methods I had to use to get the results, so I decided to change all that. I literally stripped away all the emotions and morals I knew I wouldn’t need to do the research and made sure that I could still keep up appearances. Few things matter to me anymore outside of the research though I still love my friends, I would break every law of space and time to keep them alive and well, even if it means surrendering to evil instead of remaining steadfastly just. I’d do the same for you too.” I added the last bit as a test. To my satisfaction and pleasure, Trixie blushed, breaking eye contact.
“Twilight… I’m touched.” she said. I smiled at her and turned my attention to the oncoming Twisty. He held in his magic, the jug with two glasses. As he placed them down, he smirked at me and pulled a wink.
“Here are your drinks, madams. Soo… you two on a date?” he asked. Trixie was quick to deny.
“Actually–.”
“Yes!” I interjected casually. Both ponies looked at me, Twisty with an excited expression on his face, and Trixie with a shocked expression on hers.
“It’s about time you came out of the closet, Miss Sparkle. Twenty something years and not a coltfriend to date, yeah it had to happen. I’m so proud of you!” he said, going so far as to hug me. While I admit I liked the idea of finally having a colt not related to me by blood pressing himself against me, I was much more interested in Trixie pressing against me, either up or down on me. I gave her a sharp look as if to tell her to keep her yap shut until we were alone again. Fortunately for her, she didn’t have to wait long. Twisty left with a giddy giggle and a wink to Trixie before checking up on our orders and waiting on a threesome.
“Why did you say yes?” she asked as casually as she seemed to be able to muster. I’d been playing the reason out in my head.
“Because external relationships will complicate things. If it becomes public knowledge that you and I are together. Nopony, Stallion or Mare will try to tear us apart from our connection that is our research.” I replied. Trixie seemed displeased with my answer.
“So we’re not allowed to have relationships because you’re obsessed with the research?” she asked.
You’re proving to be a beautiful distraction. “We’re not allowed to have relationships because we might get caught. How would you tell your coltfrind that you’re Une jument morte qui travaille avec un Nécromancien or Une jument morte travaillant avec un Nécromancien (A dead mare working with a Necromancer)?” Though still visibly upset, Trixie was obviously unable to think of a rebuttal. I sighed and rubbed my forehead with my hoof.
“Look… if you think you can manage it, then by all means, go out with somepony, but you must do to them what you did in your past life; lie.”
“I never lied. I really did fight an Ursa Major.” she defended.
“Yes, after you boasted about it. And you didn’t win, you lost, obviously.” Trixie looked away from me, clearly angry at my very blunt recollections. Twisty emerged a minute later and saw the scene before him.
“A little spat?” he asked me. I flashed him a look.
“Personal business, Twisty.” I said as he placed my plate down before me. The smell reached me instantly.
“Of course.” he said, turning to Trixie who flashed him a disapproving look. As he placed her food down on the table before her, he whispered something into her ear. I watched as she gasped. Twisty smiled at the both of us.
“There you go! Enjoy!” he said, hurrying away.
“Thanks… Twisty.” I turned back to Trixie who was pouting at me now. “What did he say to you?” I asked. Trixie shook her head, a blush coming to her face.
“Nothing you need to worry about.” she said. Worry? I didn’t say anything about worrying, now I am worried. I decided to drop the conversation and began to eat the food before me.
“I told you this place was good.” I said as I enjoyed the first bite. Trixie tucked into her own food and agreed whole-heartedly.
It happened, Celestia damn it! Somepony was murdered here in Ponyville and now guards are searching far and wide. I’ve had to move my home research items into the lab back in the forest and wash away the pentacle on the wall; a pain to no end, but not disabling. I simply have to use general teleportation magic instead, wasting a great deal of my magic for such a trek. Fortunately, the old castle hadn’t been shielded against teleportation like Canterlot Castle.
Trixie has also discovered a new group of musicians. Some gay and lesbian group with… unique songs. She’s invited me to go see them since they’re playing tonight. While this would make a great chance for us to bond and I could find out once and for all if she could ever take an interest in me as a pony and not just a research partner or friend. This would be one of a few things that couldn’t be interrupted by those interfering suits of armour.
As an added measure of safety, I’ve decided to conceal this log book in the laboratory also. Should the guards discover my secret drawer, they’ll find only…personal items of leisure. I almost want to know what their faces would look like when they realise Celestia’s prized student isn’t so innocent. It would be too late for them to take an interest now, but all this is irrelevant rambling and I’d rather not waste the paper.
Needless to say, I will go with Trixie to this show, and I will try to enjoy it. On a more subject related topic, I’ve noticed that while a month has passed, Trixie has shown no signs of decay. She remains as beautiful as if she were alive, how I didn’t notice such beauty before is beyond me.
I still worry about that killer, not for my own safety or that of Trixie’s, but for my other friends. Celestia has shown me some of the killer’s results, undoubtedly as a test to see if I recognised them. Clearly, I’m not above suspicion at this point. It may be prudent for future research to find the killer and experiment on them as we’re running out of rabbits and a senseless killer is hardly ranked among sentient ponies. It would tie in with the request the Princesses both made to me to find the killer, dead or alive. I’d literally been given a licence to kill, something that gets me off at this moment.
I sighed with a shudder and smiled at the thought of finding the one who halted my progress. Slicing into him, dead or alive gave me a sense of great satisfaction. Either way, he would scream. I had the power to keep him alive, even with no internal organs. I entertained the idea and it made me glad to be a mare. Sadly, the wet daydreaming regarding mortician work was left unfinished as Trixie entered the basement.
“Twilight, the show starts in three hour–.”
“Gah!” I fell off my seat and hit my bottom on the cold hard ground. At least the cold would reduce the swelling.
“Damn it Trixie! Learn to knock before you enter the room.” I said as I rubbed my poor flank. I looked at the mare to find her staring at something. I followed her gaze to my marehood and realised she was looking at how wet it had gotten at the thought of her and I playing with the killer. I froze, unsure how to react to such a situation. She didn’t seem horrified, just surprised. Either way she didn’t tear her gaze from my nether region. Her gaze alone was enough to elicit more flow from within and I could feel it slowly seeping down to the floor. She seemed to hold her breath at the sight. Perhaps she was at the very least, curious? I carefully rose to my hooves, making sure not to frighten her out of the room. She looked ready to bolt, but I just smiled at her and moved closer, our noses inches apart.
“Something wrong, Trixie? I’m sorry I shouted at you, but I’m getting bruises every time you startle me.” she remained silent. Her eyes were on mine and I used it to my advantage. I brought my lips closer, the fur around them just brushing the tips of hers. She gasped, quite cutely for that matter. I tested the reaction, lightly kissing her for an instant. She looked like she’d just eaten her first chocolate. She lost her composure and brought her lips to mine. I felt desperation in her movements. There was no subtlety to her, but that was fine, I knew the truth, she was interested. I allowed her access into my mouth and we rolled our tongues around each other. It felt great to own her the way I did. The sounds she made heavy breathing and moans of desire elicited similar responses from me. While I still had some sense of thought in me, I closed the door and locked it from the inside so Spike couldn’t wander in on us.
Trixie was on me in a second. She pinned me down and buried her tongue down my throat. I almost gagged at the sensation, but after a second, it felt so good, I could feel the familiar sensation of internal fluids dribbling down onto my tail. I wanted her, and I could feel her own juices dripping onto my belly. I pulled open my secret drawer and found what I was looking for. Trixie drew her attention to what I held in my magical aura and her jaw dropped. I took that opportunity to invade her mouth entirely. She leaned on me, taking in my dominance. I bent the object in my aura and rubbed each end against our burning marehoods. I could hear her moaning with anticipation as the double-ended toy prodded us.
“Twilight… more.” she begged, panting over me with cheeks redder than Big Macintosh. With another gentle kiss, I charged my magic and with a quick and forceful lunge, we both screamed as the toy thrust several inches into us both. Trixie had tears of joy watering her eyes. She let me take control of our combined pleasure as I forced the toy in and out of us with quick, but strong thrusts. Every time Trixie was forced forward by the force of the thrusts her fur brushed against mine and it felt fantastic as the bristles tickled our nipples. She moaned with each thrust and I knew she was ready when one moan grew longer than the rest. I increased the speed of which I forced the toy and watched as we shared total ecstasy. With the speed of a woodpecker, the toy brought us both to a climax at the same moment.
Like me, Trixie was a gusher. I felt her juices fall on me, covering me in her heat. I continued to thrust the toy a little longer, watching as she gyrated along with me to the movement of the source of our pleasure. Trixie had gotten to the point where she couldn’t even moan. It was then that I stopped the toy, letting it remain inside of us as deep as it could go. I released my magic around it and it tried to straighten itself, pushing against our walls.
Trixie was spent. The entire event left her unconscious on top of me. Not one to pass up an opportunity, I began to move the toy again, feeling the sensitive nerves inside me screaming at me. Unconscious, Trixie could only flinch at the sensation. I smiled as she mumbled my name in her slumber.
“I’m right here, my love.” I whispered into her ear. She cooed lightly.
“We’re gonna be late… for the show.” she mumbled again, nestling her face into my neck, flinching again at another deep and slow slide inward.
“We still have two hours, sweetie. Get some rest, I’ll wake you when it’s time to go. She mumbled something unintelligible and proceeded to sleep through the soft sliding of the toy. I then decided to pull it out of us and place it on the desk for washing later. With gentle movement, I rolled her onto her back and slid myself down to meet her slowly drying marehood. With two hours to spare and a sleeping mare, I couldn’t help but to make her yelp. With methods I’d thought up in my imagination, I brought my mouth to Trixie’s clitoris and began working my tongue around it. She moaned slightly, spreading her hindlegs further apart to allow me access. While I was still spent from the session prior, I’d spent the better half of a month thinking about this day, and I was damned if I wasn’t going to enjoy her to her fullest. While I knew I had practically forever to do everything possibly with her, my secret life as a Necromancer forced me to live every day like it was my last. So I was going to eat Trixie out like there was no tomorrow, awake or asleep, she was going to feel me tasting her, and she was going to love it. I consumed what juices remained inside her and worked the alphabet on her clitoris, forcing her to produce more. It didn’t take her long to gush another torrent on my face. My private laboratory basement had become ‘the sleep creep lesbian sex basement’. Perhaps changes were due without the aid of the guards sniffing about where they didn’t belong.
With a content sigh, I left Trixie to sleep her orgasms away and cleaned my face off with a hoof towel, followed shortly after by my nethers which needed a good bathe. An idea came to mind that got me hot and bothered again, and would undoubtedly entice Trixie were she ever to wake up. I unlocked the door and stepped through.
“Spike!” I called out. The young dragon descended the stairs.
“Yellow!” he said. I smiled at him and stepped toward him.
“Spike, I was wondering if you could go down to the market and get me some more quills? If you do, I’ll give you a few extra bits so you can get yourself something.” Spike grinned and nodded.
“You betcha! I’ve had my eye on this magnificent cake Pinkie’s been holding for me. I was gonna wait until you were done downstairs before asking for the bits to get it.” he replied. Normally, I would tell him to go easy on the sweets, but my selfish desire put a stop to that this one time.
“Alright, Spike. How much is it?” I asked.
“Five bits.” he replied. I added the running total in my head. Quills usually cost two bits, but they would sometimes go up to three. I shrugged and gave him ten bits.
“Here, but I want the change. Get me some Night Owl quills if there’s any.” I said. Spike saluted me and hurried out the door. He would no doubt go for the cake first, but that didn’t matter to me at the moment. I opened the basement door and grabbed the still unconscious Trixie. Resting her on my back, I took her to the bathroom and placed her in the bath tub. I plugged the drain and ran the water. Hopping in behind her, I pulled her up so she was lying against my chest. With the water filling half the tub, I turned the knobs off and began working on cleaning her, being very thorough with her marehood. Her head flopped back onto my shoulder and she moaned as I rubbed her clitoris hard. I didn’t let up for five minutes and as I pushed harder, she came in the water. Finally, she woke up to the sensation and looked disoriented. She saw the bath first, then the hoof that was still rubbing her tingling button. She then turned to me and gasped.
“Wait, what time is it, did we miss the show?” she asked. I chuckled at her and shook my head.
“Relax, we’ve still got just under two hours. I’m just cleaning you up so you look your best for the performance. Though in my eyes, you look best when you’re drenched in our combined cum.” Trixie was unused to such words coming from me, but she seemed enthralled.
“You know, I realised that you were attracted to me when Twisty said he could see the love in your eyes. I was shocked at first, but then I found myself thinking of you every night. This performance rocked up and I thought it was the perfect time to tell you how I felt, but I’m very glad it happened like this. I… I love you, Twilight Sparkle.” She’d said it. The three to five words I wanted to hear the most. I never expected it to be so sudden. Three sessions of passion in one day and she loved me. It was more than I ever wanted from her. I couldn’t take it.
“I love you too.” I said, reaching for her mouth once more. She met me half way and we bathed in a mixture of bath water and our own fluids. Three times we tried for a clean bath, but we couldn’t keep our hooves off each other. Finally, we decided to test our willpower. She stood over me and bathed me like a little filly until I was clean, then it was my turn to do the same to her. When we were all squeaky clean and our manes ruffled by the towels, Spike’s return home was all we could do to keep our hooves off each other. He had in his well-balanced hands, a beautiful cake, and in the other a stack of Night Owl quills.
“I’m home!” he called out.
“Welcome home, Cake. Did you happen to see Spike on your way over?” I teased. His sarcasm was expected and appreciated.
“Ha, ha! Very funny, Twilight. Hey, Hex. Have a nice session with Twilight in the basement?” Trixie’s and my eyes widened. With a nervous chuckle, she replied positively.
“It was certainly more fun than usual.” she replied. Spike placed the cake down on the dining table and chuckled back.
“Yeah, Twi can be pretty boring most of the time, but every now and then she’ll surprise you with something to keep you entertained. Want some cake?” he offered.
“Thanks Spike, but Twilight and I are about to go and see a show.” she replied.
“Oh, you mean that Army of Lovers group that’s going around Equestria picking up fans like I pick up books?” he asked. I was surprised to find out he was a fan.
“Yes, that one. It’s a date with Twilight, and I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest.” she replied. Spike looked at me with a dropped jaw.
“Date? You mean… together… mare and mare… Twilight, you’re gay?!” he asked in astonishment.
“Thank you, Mr. Tact. Yes, I’m gay, you’re the first one to know, congratulations and all that crap.” I replied, looking at the clock. I let Trixie know the time and she gasped.
“On no, we’re running late. We’ll see you later Spike.” she said. I had time to wave a hoof at the young dragon before I was dragged out of the library by a surprisingly strong mare.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the innuendos of the songs, with a name like ‘Ride the Bullet’, the song was so funny. A somewhat more romantic song was ‘Hooves up’. ‘Obsession’ became another favourite of mine and the rest were simply excitable. Trixie and I enjoyed the show and remained together as crowds of ponies screamed for more.
As time went on the show came to a close. Trixie and I were still too excited to finish the date so soon. In the end, we found ourselves looking up at the stars on the plains where I saw the great dragon migration some years back. We looked up at the stars and tried to find the constellations.
“There’s Orion, Taurus and… Gemini over there.” I said, pointing to each constellation. Trixie smiled and leaned into me, pointing to some of the ones she knew about.
“Think we’ll find an Ursa in there?” I teased. She slapped me playfully, causing me to giggle. I hadn’t felt so… whole in a long time. Since my idol had failed me, I came to realise life wasn’t as great as I thought it was, that Celestia wasn’t as great as she made herself out to be. And that hurt me. I felt betrayed by the ruse, but now Trixie, an old enemy had filled the void in my heart.
I held her tight in my hooves, resting my head on hers. It was amazing how quickly we became comfortable with each other; how quickly we fell in love, but I was not going to complain.
“Here’s a cliché; I wish this night could last forever.” I said, eliciting a giggle from the blue mare. It was then that a shadowy figure suddenly landed right in front of us with a loud crunch. We screamed in surprise and shuffled back from the husk before us. When we saw it wasn’t moving, we braved getting closer. It was a Pegasus, this much I could tell. The moonlight wasn’t enough to reveal the identity, but I could tell from the shape that it was once a mare.
“I can’t see who it is.” I said, illuminating my horn with light. I was frozen as I saw who it was. Rainbow Dash lay before me, broken and battered from the fall, felled by a stab wound through her heart.
Dash’s death took me hard. One of my closest friends had just fallen out of the sky, dead at my hooves. My feelings on the matter were clouded by the event and I could only rationalise… or not.
“Well fuck you Irony, leave me with a dead friend and not a chance to take back the wish I made about this night lasting forever.” I groaned.
“Twilight, Rainbow Dash just died, shouldn’t you… be screaming or something?” Trixie asked, with a hint of concern evident in her voice. I turned around and smiled at her, my eyes glowing through my contacts once again.
“Why would I scream when she’s going to return to us very soon?” My horn ignited in a burst of light and the scene had been set. We stood beside each other, Dash on the operating table before us.
“Twilight why didn’t you, just bring her back to life there on the field?” Trixie asked. I rolled my eyes over to her, burning through the contacts.
“Because with wounds like hers, she’d have screamed her head off, and the chances of her being heard from Ponyville or Cloudsdale would have been too great a risk. So here in the confines of the laboratory, in the middle of the Everfree, nopony can hear her scream. And if anything does hear her, they would only become fresh test subjects.” I replied, grinning with glee.
“Okay, but you could at least show some sadness at the fact that our friend just died right in front of us.” she argued. I shrugged and hopped onto the table to examine Dash.
“Darling, death is just a bout of unconsciousness to us. A break in the story that is life. Ponies come back often enough in hospitals by chance, I’m just boosting those chances to a more acceptable level. In short, Death has no chance against me.”
“You say that as if you can’t die either.” she stated. I grinned again and leaped off the table.
“Trixie, my love. For me, Death is just the beginning. Those experiments on Hydra regeneration returned very promising results after all.” I was face to face with her as I spoke.
“Your eyes are frightening me, Twilight.” she said. Despite her words, I continued to smile.
“These are the eyes of a power Princess Celestia couldn’t wield in her wildest dreams.” Trixie gasped and slapped me on the face. My smile dropped as I worked over the pain I suddenly felt in my cheek.
“Princess Celestia, and Luna for that matter are gods!” she exclaimed. I listened to her naive claim and laughed.
“I used to think that myself, but I was foolish, as is the rest of Equestria. The princesses aren’t gods, they’re just very tall royal alicorns with more power than most. I realised the truth when Celestia was defeated by a changeling. A god would not fall to an overgrown bug. Again, the crystal empire; King Sombra wielded dark power that would put Luna’s to shame, even as Nightmare Moon. They might have been comparable to gods when they wielded the Elements of Harmony, but even those little baubles are flawed. They trap and encase their enemies, but never kill. And they can’t be used against one another. Not to mention when Dash died, her link to the elements was severed, rendering them useless. I doubt that connection would remain even after I brought her back… Speaking of which.”
I turned back around and returned my attention to Rainbow Dash. The once cyan Pegasus had lost some of her colour and looked more like a cloudy grey with a watercolour rainbow mane and tail. I examined her body for broken bones as well as the stab wound on her chest. I’d have to do a little digging. Trixie began to set up the autopsy tools and brought them over to me.
“Scalpal?” I asked. She lifted one with her magic and hovered it over to me. I took it in my own magic and traced it over Dash’s heart. I dug into the flesh and watched with resigned indifference as blood seeped through the cut.
“Cloth and vacuum.” I said. Trixie brought a suction hose to the opened wound and sucked the offending blood from her body, wiping the muscles and organs in the way. I began to close off the holes in Dash’s heart and lung, so as when she came back, and I’d bring her to life once more, she wouldn’t bleed internally. Sadly, her life may be reduced considerably. With the internal injuries sorted, I closed the wound on the outside, as well as the entry point, using general stitching.
“I remembered I felt very cold when I woke up.” Trixie stated. I nodded in response.
“You were drained of your blood so as to preserve your body for as long as possible, you remember I gave you that tablet on the way home?” I asked.
“Yes?”
“That was a blood tablet. A magical tablet that completely restores blood flow and strengthens the heart a fraction.” I replied, showing her a similar tablet.
“What about this amulet?” she asked.
“Dash won’t need it. I gave you the amulet because I knew at the time you would despise surviving off of my residual energy. Dash won’t mind as much.” I replied.
“She’s the Element of Loyalty, if she knows about the research wouldn’t her loyalty compel her to inform Princess Celestia?” Trixie asked. I smiled and shook my head.
“She’s loyal to her friends above all else. I don’t doubt she’ll keep my secret, besides, if she tries to tell, I’ll just have to sever the connection and she’ll drop dead in a heartbeat. I just hope it doesn’t come to that.” Using magic, I mended the broken bones to the best of my ability. Her wings would sting for a while.
“Perhaps it’s best if we pretend we found her unconscious. Bring her back in a familiar environment, maybe the Library.” I found that to be the better idea, however… I wanted at least one of my best friends to know the truth.
“Alright. Thank you for your help, Trixie… I’ll take care of the hard part, could you distract Spike for a while? Take him out or something and discuss the show.” I replied. Trixie smiled and nodded, planting a quick peck on my cheek.
“You think resurrecting Dash is the hard part and distracting a dragon like Spike is easy? I’m surprised you know a single spell.” she teased. I stuck a playful tongue out at her, curling it up and down before her.
“Bite your tongue, Twilight.” she objected teasingly.
“If I did that, it would be out of action for a while… out of our action that you seemed to enjoy in the basement while you were asleep and again in the tub.” Trixie took my tongue as I showed it to her again and kissed it before using a teleportation method I taught her. I was left alone with Rainbow Dash lying dead and helpless on the bench, fully exposed. I bit my bottom lip.
“Crap, now I’m curious as to how she tastes.” I groaned. Shifting my eyes from side to side, I checked for any lurking eyes, animal or otherwise. Certain it was safe, I placed my head between her cold legs and stuck my tongue inside of her. She tasted like skittles, surprisingly.
“Huh. Now I’m a gay necrophiliac… I’m just breaking all sorts of taboos tonight. Maybe I can convince Trixie to have a threesome with her. I gently kissed Rainbow Dash’s lips, then moved up to her face and kissed her mouth.
“I’m sure you’d enjoy that, my ‘masked dyke of Cloudsdale’.” I said, giggling at the notion. With research such at mine, learning to gather information without being noticed was an acquired skill and I gathered quite a trove of information on my friends. Applejack was a siscon, Rarity was a belladonna, Pinkie Pie was… Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy was zoophilic and Rainbow Dash had taken up the habit of dressing up in black leather, covering her mane and tail, and sneaking into ponies houses and having lesbian sex with other mares, married to stallions or mares or not at all. The mysterious mare had been given the title of ‘The Masked Dyke of Cloudsdale’.
I lifted Rainbow Dash from the bench and positioned her on my back. I proceeded to teleport the two of us into the Library after a sufficient amount of time. Fortunately, Spike was nowhere to be seen and ‘Hex’ was also absent, excellent. Taking the rainbow mare up the steps, I opened my bedroom door and pulled the covers off. I placed Dash down onto the bed and threw the covers back over her. She would be freezing when she woke up. I locked the door so I wouldn’t be disturbed by anything.
Placing my hoof over Dash’s chest, my horn began to glow. I changed the frequency of the magic until it began to radiate a sickly dark variant of its usually violet hue. Black lightning flashed around the horn, then me, travelling around my outstretched hoof and zapping Rainbow Dash. It happened again five times. I could see her eyes fluttering slightly. It had worked, Dash was alive once again. I brought my hoof back from her chest. As she opened her eyes slightly, I allowed her to gaze upon my true eyes, undisguised by the contacts.
“Twilight?” she managed to croak. Time was up. I forced magic to compress the gravity in this room slightly, making Dash lose focus on me and struggle to breathe. I turned to leave the room and as I did so, closing the door, I released the magic. Not a sound could be heard from within my room. I made my way to the mirror along the second floor and stared at myself. Trixie was right, I was truly frightening the way I was, but power came at a price and appearances meant little when one had friends and somepony who already loved them. Still, I had to hide the truth.
I found contacts to be less than useful in times of great emotion or of performance. I tried a spell I’d been mulling over and experimenting on for a while, and like a dye, the black around my irises retreated into the eye itself, giving way to white sclera. The red irises turned back to a deep purple. I finally looked like my old self. It almost felt good, to look like my ignorant self. But I wasn’t ignorant anymore. I saw the truth behind their lies; gods can’t be defeated by changelings, no matter how powerful, and six ponies with magical jewellery can’t banish the evil within another god and bring omnipotent siblings together again.
I sighed with resignation and turned back to the doorway. I opened it with casual force and stepped through. I saw Rainbow Dash open her eyes and feigning surprise, I rushed to her side.
“Rainbow Dash, you’re alright! When I brought you here, I thought you wouldn’t make it.” Rainbow Dash looked at me in confusion, then began to shiver violently.
“T-t-twilight! It’s s-s-so c-c-cold!” she said, reaching out to me. I hopped on the bed beside her and held her tightly, trying to warm her up.
“Shock will do that to you. You might have had some hallucinations as well. Did you have anything like that?” I asked. She continued to shiver and I took the opportunity to rub her back, going so low as to brush her flank which seemed to elicit an amount of pleasure from her. She huddled closer to me, likely wishing that the covers weren’t separating us at the moment.
“I-I-I s-s-saw you… Y-y-you h-h-h-had… b-b-b-black eyes. And r-r-red irises.” she replied. I smiled as she took that for the hallucination.
“T-twilight… I s-s-saw the k-k-killer… s-s-she stabbed m-me. I-I-I… I should be d-d-dead.” she said. I decided to give her a half-truth.
“It’s okay. I won’t let you die until you fulfil your dream of becoming a wonderbolt and enjoy a life worth living. I’ll find the killer and… put a stop to her.” I said. It was interesting to me that the killer was a Pegasus. It made escape simple enough when attacking in open spaces, or near a window.
“Thanks for saving me Twi.” I heard her say. I smiled as I levitated the blood tablet over to us.
“Here, take this. It should help you get better.” Dash took it without question. I placed the tablet onto my hoof and then placed it into her mouth. Dash closed her mouth over my hoof and gently suckled on it before swallowing the tablet. I’d hoped for this and faked a blush at the display.
“So you’re ‘The Masked Dyke of Cloudsdale’?” I asked. Dash seemed ashamed of the title, but I reassured her.
“When Hex comes back, let’s see if we can’t book a threesome, eh?” I suggested. Dash grinned.
“Who would have thought the egghead had such a dirty mind in her?” she teased. I chuckled.
“I read ‘Fifty Shades of Greymane.” I replied, gently nibbling on Dash’s left ear. She moaned at the sensual sensation. Dash didn’t like being touched, but it wasn’t because she wasn’t the tactile type, it was because she had hyper sensitivity. Needless to say, in a threesome, she was hardly competition when it came to… holding out. It brought a whole new meaning to ‘ten seconds flat’. I was about to kiss Dash on the mouth to entice her further when I heard the front door close.
“Ah, that’ll be Hex with Spike now. I’ll send him off to bed and the three of us can… warm each other up.” I said, lightly brushing my lips against Dash’s. She gasped and groaned as I left her side.
“Hex, welcome back, how was your little outing with Spike?” I asked. Trixie smiled and winked at me.
“He was a perfect gentledrake.” she chuckled. A loud moan escaped Rainbow Dash from upstairs.
“What was that?” Spike asked. I smiled gently at him and told him the story.
“That’s Rainbow Dash. She had a little accident and almost killed herself. I brought her here to recover. She must be in more pain than I thought. But don’t you worry about that, Spike. Head into your room and get some sleep. Hex and I will care for her tonight.” I said. Spike nodded and said his goodnights before retiring to the small room under the stairs.
“Okay, so what’s the deal?” Trixie asked, keeping her voice at a whisper. I grinned at her and motioned her closer.
“Turns out she was attacked by the killer that’s been going around from city to city. Since Dash was in the air, it makes sense that the killer is a Pegasus. But all that aside, I learned that Dash is crazy horny right now and wants to thank her saviours accordingly. What do you say to a threesome with her?” Trixie seemed unsure about the prospect, but didn’t flat-out refuse.
“I have to know just one thing first.” she demanded. I nodded, waiting for her to ask. “You and I are still a couple? You’re not trying to create an undead harem or something are you?” I almost laughed at the insinuation.
“Sweetie, if I were to make an undead harem, I’d make sure that it was for the both of us. No matter how many ponies I sleep with, you will always be my special somepony, and my very first lover. If you want to sleep around, I’m fine with it, because I know that you are mine at the end of the day, as I am yours.”
“So we’re swingers?” she asked, a hint of arousal in her voice.
“Hmm… Me, a Necromancer Swinging Necrophiliac… sounds legit.” another impatient moan reached our ears, letting us know Dash was waiting.
“Please, oh please oh please oh please oh please!” I begged her. She smiled and kissed me.
“Okay, but you have to promise you’ll never leave me for anypony else.” she said.
“Likewise.” I said, grabbing her by the hoof and dragging her upstairs. I opened the bedroom door and pulled Trixie through, closing it after us and locking it.
“Hey girls… ready for your payment?” Rainbow Dash asked, the covers thrown off to reveal a very sexily posed mare with pre-dripping nethers that got the both of us hotter than a hotspring. I placed a sound barrier around the room to prevent sound from escaping the room, because this was going to get hot and very loud.
Events have taken a turn for the better. Rainbow Dash’s death has not been publicised, which meant Trixie and myself were the only witnesses. I believe my friend’s killer had intended for me to see her die and spread the news. Were they to see Dash still up and about without a care in the world, I imagine the look on their face would not only be funnier than Rainbow Dash being scared by Princess Luna on Nightmare Night, but would also potentially reveal to us who that killer is.
That said, I find Rainbow Dash is smarter than she appears. Shortly after our receiving the ‘gift’ she gave us for bringing her back, she developed a theory that made sense but was rejected simply because it was not the case. She suspected I’d somehow given myself temporary wings and killed her, then brought her back to life either for experimentation or so she would be forever in my debt. While both would be likely, I explained to her that I simply couldn’t do such experiments on my friends. Studying with Applejack’s incestuous fondness for her sister was the exception and unfortunately simply a hobby, I discovered.
The progress I have made regarding emotions fuelling magical strength and abundance have hit a dead end and further testing on a drugged up Applejack are no longer necessary. It has occurred to me that positive emotions such as those that fuel the ‘Elements of Harmony’ do not allow Necromancy to prosper, but in fact, weaken it. Selfish emotions, potentially the antithesis of the Elements’ affinities, such as ‘Desire’ and ‘Lust’ are what fuels the project. Fortunately, my agreement with Trixie to have purely platonic relationships with other ponies, be they Stallion or Mare, will fit in nicely with my ability to keep up appearances. While I say one thing, I would think another, more selfish thought.
Continued passion between myself and my… companions has taken a toll on my body and produced physical aspects that are becoming increasingly difficult to hide. Contact lenses no longer work and had proceeded to melt the last time. As a result, I have developed a slight phobia toward the things, the terminology of which has not been labelled as of yet. I have come to a fork in the road. I can either give up intercourse with my loves, or I can expend a small but constant amount of magic maintaining a perfect visage of myself as the Amulet of Sion does for Trixie. While the answer seems obvious, I am reminded that my magic must not be swayed from the subject matter. I will have to think about this more over the course of events.
Trixie has made me abundantly aware of the threat the killer poses to our secret, for if he/she were to see Rainbow Dash alive, knowing we were the only witnesses, they would suspect Necromancy. I settled her argument once and for all by saying that should the killer reveal our secret to the princesses, they would also be jeopardising their own goals. As the only witnesses to Dash’s murder, anypony else who knew she had died would have to be the killer. As it has been three weeks since the incident, I believe the killer has reached the same conclusion or has moved on to the next town without having seen his previous victim flying about.
It saddens me to no end that my research has been slowed to a crawl thanks to the persistent inspections of the guards stationed to Ponyville; but I am further outraged that it has been brought to a hiatus as Celestia has summoned me to a meeting, the purpose of which eludes me and worries me at the same time. I’ve invited my friends along including my lovely concubine, ‘Hex’. Spike has also expressed an interest in going to Canterlot, and since he has remained strong in allowing me and Trixie our privacy, I have decided to reward him with more freedom than he is used to. The choice to go to Canterlot or remain behind is his to make.
It occurs to me that perhaps now would be the time to test the mind controlling spell on a more strong-minded pony. I have decided to use my trip to Canterlot wisely and enforce spies upon the Royal Guard. Without knowing they have done so, they will have sent me daily reports on the Princesses’ orders, allowing me time to prepare should I be found out. I admit the thought of leaving my Library and secluding myself in various hidden bases frightens me. But it has always been a necessary precaution since the very beginning. I’m almost ready to depart, I have just one thing left to do before I halt my research…
P.S: The royal guards found my secret stash of sex toys and while I feigned embarrassment, it was mild compared to their own shamed faces. Oddly enough one of my small vibrators is missing. That guard must have discreetly taken it without my knowing. All I can say is well done for getting something past me and I hope she uses it thoroughly.
I giggled at the images that came to mind. Knowing the Royal Guard, she would eventually be called to an assignment and would have had no time to remove the toy and hide it from her brothers and sisters-in-arms. It would prove for an interesting work day for her and me both. Once I found out of the mind controlling spell worked on the guards, I would probably use it on the ones stationed in Ponyville to ignore the Library so I could proceed with my work. I also wouldn’t mind seeing that one guard enjoying my gift.
I giggled again at the thought of another added to the harem, though this one would be a true slave to her base desires.
The clicking and buzzing of insect-like chatter brought me from my pleasant thoughts and I turned to the creature on the operating table behind me. The black creature with full blue eyes spoke to me in Equish not long afterward.
“Release… me!” he shouted defiantly. I got off my chair and made my way up to him. With a kind smile I reached my hoof over, making like I was actually going to do what he said. I then threw my hoof across his face with such force, a crack in his chitin was visible.
“Shut up bitch! You’re inside now, you’re mine!” I replied, grabbing a drink I had inadvertently left on the table beside the changeling and drank from it. He was quiet for another moment before he spoke again.
“What are you going to do to me?” he took on the form of Trixie, or to be more specific, ‘Hex’. I hadn’t actually seen the visage Trixie wore before, and I found her to be breathtaking. But I knew that this creature was just imitating like Trixie.
“Nothing that will physically harm you… unless ‘Plan A’ fails and I’m forced to resort to ‘Plan B’.” I replied, turning to return to my log.
“Plan A?” he asked. I knew he’d do that! I turned to face the changeling once again and smiled. Gently stroking my hoof along his cracked cheek, I answered him.
“While I plan on making spies for my own personal benefit, I need to test the spell on a subject more powerful in mind than a Royal Guard. And what better mind to test than one connected to a hive of them? Your joint mental defences make for a splendid challenge and I do so love a challenge. That’s ‘Plan A’.” I told him, lightly smacking the crack.
“And… ‘Plan B’?” And Twilight takes the lead with two assumptions! I grinned at him, trying to look as intimidating as I could. While the grin probably wouldn’t have been necessary what with my eyes and slowly darkening complexion, I felt it just added that little threat of insanity.
“Well it’s not a perfect plan, but I could always use something to practise my more… excruciating and semi-lethal spells on.” A third point was given to me as the changeling gulped in its own equivalent of fear.
“So let’s just hope I can make a spy out of you, shall we? If not, then perhaps a messenger in the very least. I do hope your kind don’t have many differences in personality, I’d hate for the others to think you odd after I’m done with your little mind. With him good and scared, I forced my magic to probe his mind and utterly destroy the barriers around his psyche. It was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be, given his collective hive mind. It dawned upon me that I might be able to make contact with Chrysalis, what better spy than the one who infiltrated Canterlot previously, with the aid of my Royal Guard slaves, nothing would be kept secret from me. That being said, constant mind control over such a large scale would prove to be costly to the overall research, and Celestia may not be the only enemy. I decided to leave Chrysalis as is and have this changeling spy on her. Perhaps she would become an ally, once I informed her of my connections within Canterlot, her greatest defeat.
There it was, the core of this changeling’s will and perception. With a slight tweak, I could have him ravaging the queen every time he laid eyes on her, wilfully, or forcefully, it would not matter to him. But spying was all I needed him for. Changeling sex was not exactly a moistening thought to me, since they were the apex of my current situation regarding my faith in Celestia. I forced a jolt of my will into the changeling and I watched as he in turn spasmed beneath the restraints. Another more thorough jolt had him literally bending backwards. With that out of the way, I released his mind and allowed him to turn to me.
“Did it work?” he asked. I shrugged and released him from the restraints.
“We’ll find out soon enough. I want you to know that I am not planning on using the information you gather as a weapon against you and your kind, I simply wish to make sure Chrysalis has learned her lesson and won’t come after us. So don’t mention any of this to her, alright?” I asked. The changeling hesitated for a moment, but nodded in the end. With everything said and done, I teleported him back to where I found him and allowed him to make his own way back home. I expected him to report to me within the week by any means necessary. With two proverbial birds killed with one proverbial stone, I smiled and teleported back to the Library where Trixie was waiting with Spike.
“Alright, I’m good to go.”
We met up with the other girls at the train station and exchanged the usual greetings. I smiled at the royal guard who had stolen my toy. She’d been posted to watch for any suspicious types entering or leaving the town. I struck up a small conversation with her while my friends and I waited for the train. As she spoke, I crept ever closer between the gaps of her mental barriers, slithering through ever so gently. I found the conversation acted as a good distraction from her mental training. Her theft and simple firewalls made me deduce that she was a rookie stationed here to Ponyville. It wasn’t long before I’d made my way through to where I needed to go in her mind. Like I had done with the changeling, I forced my will into her. She went rigid for a second and I almost thought she had the toy inside of her when she lost her balance.
Testing the spell, I ordered her to blow me a quick raspberry immediately. She did so, and appeared to have no recollection of the event. With that test out of the way, I did what any novice Necromancer would do if given the opportunity. I ordered her to ignore the Library when conducting her inspections. Unlike the changeling, she physically acknowledged my order by saluting me and saying “Yes ma’am”.
Withdrawing from her mind, I struck up more conversation with her trying to get to know her better. She was called ‘Fire Reign’, a novice Pyromancer and Rookie Royal Guard. I was surprised to have met a Pyromancer, given the rarity of their teachings. Only a select few were chosen by Celestia like I had been; only while my studies varied greatly, the Pyromancer learned only of how to control fire with as much ease as levitating a small object. Reign told me the basics of her life story and how she’d been discovered as a Pyromancer by accidentally having singed the mane off of her younger brother. I laughed at the appropriate times and exchanged similar stories of my fillyhood. She revealed herself as my number one fan, which to say the least, flattered me. It also brought me the opportunity to entertain some ideas. I invited her to the Library after we got back from Canterlot (despite my orders about the place) for a friendly visit off-duty. She accepted the invitation, ignorant to the fact that while I invited her, I mentally hinted that she should bring the vibrator with her, equipped to her body. She would then proceed to give me the remote controlling the intensity of the vibrations and we would enjoy the night together with ‘Hex’ and Rainbow Dash. I’d have to ask that Fluttershy take Spike in that night.
Finally, the train came and I bid my farewells to Fire Reign and expressed my anticipation for the event. She did likewise and returned to her duties, seemingly happier than when I’d spotted her. The train wasn’t crowded, but Trixie and Rainbow Dash both sat comfortably next to me on each side. The others sat at less friendly distances and began chatting amongst themselves. While they were doing that, I informed Trixie and Rainbow Dash of my plans for Fire Reign through a mental communication spell I’d picked up. They both looked at me and smiled.
“And so the harem grows.” Trixie replied through the same spell. I forwarded her statement to Dash who chuckled outwardly.
It wasn’t long before Rainbow Dash became quickly bored of the train ride. I could tell she wanted to read a Daring Do novella. Fortunately, I had a photographic memory and was able to project the images of the pages into her mind to read when she closed her eyes. She took the opportunity graciously and feigned slumber as she read.
“Heh, must be dreamin’ about havin’ one of them adventures with Darin’ Do.” Applejack mused. I chuckled at her comment; if she only knew.
“You’re one to talk, AJ, dreaming of such things as you do.” she paused and grew worried as Pinkie asked what she dreamed about. I decided to play a game and test Applejack’s stress levels.
“Apples and where they belong.” I replied, smiling at the orange Earth pony who grew wide-eyed at the statement.
“Ooh, ooh! Where do they belong?” Pinkie asked again. I chuckled and replied honestly.
“In very small fruit baskets.” Applejack struggled not to whine and crossed one leg over the other to cover the shame. While nopony understood the awkwardness of the dream, I couldn’t help but revel in Applejack’s judging glare. My smile was permanently planted on my face.
“By the way, did you know the ‘Masked Dyke of Cloudsdale’ has stopped sleeping around with other ponies? She disappeared suddenly without a trace.” Pinkie said, changing the subject… to a degree.
“Maybe she was killed by the mysterious killer?” I suggested. If only they knew. I knew those words were playing in both Rainbow Dash’s and Trixie’s minds.
This will be a short entry as I have managed to get some time to myself. Midnight has approached overhead and the view is breathtaking, just how I remember it. Unfortunately, it still saddens me that the truth covers some of the wonder I once held towards this place. Canterlot Castle is easily the most beautiful place short of the Crystal Empire.
We managed to make it to Canterlot with next to no trouble. Wasting no time, we then proceeded to the castle where we hoped Celestia would inform us of yet another impending disaster. She was surprisingly unforthcoming when it came to the reason we were summoned. Such a thing frightens me more than her blatantly revealing to my friends that I am a Necromancer. Perhaps she wants to get me alone and erase my friends’ memories of me. That idea fills me with a sense of dread unlike anything else I have ever felt. I’d sooner perform a coup d’état than let her force the belief that she is all powerful on my friends.
I tried to pry the reason as to why we were here out of Luna, but she too was not forthcoming. We were treated as if we were just ordinary guests in a friend’s house, very unlike the Princesses. In all my years, I have never known them to just invite us around for a casual visit. Rainbow Dash and Trixie have both sensed the unease our seemingly pointless invitation has presented and have remained close by should we need to escape.
I’ve taken the time to perform the mind control spell on a quarter of the Royal Guard, both day and night. I plan to get at least half done by the time we have to leave, hopefully, by then we will be able to leave and our fears rendered pointless.
I closed the book and sent it back to the laboratory just as somepony knocked on my bedroom door.
“It’s open!” I called out. I heard the unmistakable creak of the hinges as the door was opened. The voice of my mentor reached me and my fears began to rise.
“Twilight…” she said calmly. The fur on my neck stood on end and I tensed up, hoping against all that was magical that my fears were exaggerated as most were.
“Princess?” I tried to say as calmly as I could, but my voice had broken half way through the word. She said nothing as she made her way over to my bed and sat herself down on one side. She then patted the other side and I immediately went over to her, taking my place beside her. Nothing was said as she pulled me close and held me tightly. If this was an attempt to arrest me, it was the best one I could have imagined. I wished all my memories of the Wedding and the Crystal Empire would melt away so I could once again be ignorant of her limits and think myself lucky to be held by a goddess. But such a thought made me hate my traitorous mind.
“I’m scared, Twilight.” Celestia said after a few minutes of silence. I had a pretty good idea of what she was afraid of, but I decided to ask, just to be sure.
“What are you scared of, Princess?” She held me tighter and I could feel myself being pressed into her warm bosom.
“The killer has yet to take any lives in Ponyville, and I’m worried that you and your friends will become his targets. That’s why I brought you here; I wanted you safe for the time being.” my fears dropped like an anchor in water and I found myself holding Celestia in return. Traitorous hooves as well. But were they really traitorous? Perhaps I was becoming too single-minded towards her. She never truly claimed to be a goddess, and as a filly, she was my hero and idol. It only made sense that I saw her as such. My true failing was not growing out of that perception. Celestia was not truly to blame. I began to feel ashamed of myself for not seeing that earlier.
It occurred to me that I would have to focus my Necromancy on another source; perhaps the killer this time.
“Princess, you hired me to find this pony. If I’m going to be able to do that, I need your permission to use whatever resources I deem necessary. If I’m going to find him or her, it’s going to have to be without limits or guidelines.” I tried carefully to choose my words, knowing that without good reason, my request to use all methods possible would be discarded not unlike the written requests of the snobby nobles I knew she burned for kindling in her fireplace at night.
As expected, Celestia gave me a very considerate look, thinking long and hard about the request. She seemed about to deny me, which wouldn’t have made any difference in the long run, but were she to say ‘yes’ I could use her blessing as an excuse for my Necromancy should I be found out.
“Alright… Twilight, I trust you. If anypony else were to ask me, I’d say no, but you have always been the exception to every rule. You’re like a daughter to me, maybe even more so. I don’t know what it is about you, but… I can never say no unless I absolutely need to.” her words touched me and I found myself shedding silent tears. It suddenly dawned upon me how difficult it had been to hide such a heavy secret as necromancy from her. The constant fear and the potential for loss of control. The more I studied the subject, the further away from her I felt I was going. It felt good to have her indulge me socially.
“Thank you, Princess… I love you so much.” I said. I didn’t realise I’d said the last words until they emerged from my mouth. I looked at her with embarrassment written all over my face. She reassured me by kissing me. I expected her to just peck me in the head or maybe even the cheek, but she did the last thing I ever would have expected. She was on me in an instant, showing me just how ferocious the sun could be when too close. I almost began to believe again that she was a goddess when her tongue worked wonders inside my mouth, slithering like a snake at the back of my throat, avoiding my uvula entirely. My eyes rolled backward at the sensation and the desire I felt towards her at that moment cascaded through my veins, rippling and shifting the position of the system.
I could feel the veins around my eyes pushing their way to the surface. Fortunately, Celestia had her eyes closed. I used my magic to disguise my changing features so I could take full advantage of Celestia’s ferocious generosity.
She quickly shed her regal attire including her diadem and placed them on the bedside table. She then brought her bare hoof between my hind legs and pressed gently down on the soft spot. Her touch was riddled with magic as she worked her soft and undamaged hoof around my most sensitive spot, crushing it against the rest of my skin and dragging the almost pearly surface of her bone over it. I couldn’t help but bite into her neck as she did this. I didn’t expect her to enjoy the sensation of me biting her, but she did nonetheless.
As she stopped to move on to something else, I could feel my wetness seeping down to my tail joint.
“How’s this for my blessing?” she asked. Before I could answer, I felt her entire hoof suddenly force its way inside of my marehood. She didn’t bother to stop, but forced her way up to my Cervix. I bit down harder to try and muffle the scream, but that just made her push past the cervix into my uterus. I released her and gasped for air as the sensation took my breath away. I’d never felt this kind of painful pleasure. I didn’t know whether to scream or moan. So this was what one thousand years of experience did to a mare? I expected her to thrust in and out, but instead, she just twisted back and forth, a much more comfortable feeling given I was a uteral virgin. My throat locked up as I felt every hair on her foreleg tickling the inside of my vagina. I could die happy at this moment, yet the desire to repeat the process to Trixie surged through my mind in an instant and I began to get into the swing of what was happening. I wrapped my hooves around Celestia’s neck and forced my tongue through her mouth, showing her that she wasn’t the only god-like kisser in this room.
Hours passed and she’d managed to defeat me, keeping me at the brink of climax for the majority of the time spent. It was when she finally pulled her foreleg back half way and then shot it back inside that I finally came. I bit into the pillow as a tidal wave of ecstasy and vaginal juices flowed through my body. I imagined I would have gone flying off had I not been stationary. Point me at a window and I would have been shot off of her hoof and sent to the moon.
“Finished already? I was hoping to see what you could do to me, my faithful student.” she teased. That bitch! I couldn’t speak, I could just breathe surprisingly.
With my lower body number than a dead limb, I used my front legs to turn myself around to face her. I gave her a look as if to say I was ready to return the favour. She responded by giving me access. I dragged myself around to a more comfortable position and literally buried my face into her sweet and hot nether region. The motion elicited a jolt of either surprise or arousal, possibly both from the princess. I smiled inside of her and began to work my tongue around as if I were kissing her again. She sounded content with my work as she rested herself and pushed my face further in with her hoof. I picked up the pace and dared to wrap my hooves around her hind legs and drag her closer. She eeped, in the most feminine way I’d ever heard her. Her wings burst out like springs as I hungrily drank from her warm river of fluids. Everyone has a sense of what fire would taste like would they be able to eat it. Some think it tastes like gas, others, burning wood. I didn’t know if it was because I was a Necromancer or what, but her pussy tasted like energy, not just any energy, but life energy, the energy of the sun, young and alive despite having been around for ages. It was a taste I would never forget; warm and rejuvenating.
I gathered my second wind and began to do unto her what she did to me. Without warning, I drove my entire foreleg into her dripping marehood, feeling everything up to my shoulder slicked with warm energising juices. She didn’t bother hiding her satisfaction as she gasped and laughed at the same time. Clearly, no matter how many lovers she’d had, none had the courage to mimic her, except for me. I didn’t do what she did afterward. I began to thrust my hoof in and out, in and out, nibbling on her clitoris as I did so.
“Oh, Twilight! Don’t. If you keep that up, I’ll cum too soon.” she said. That was the plan. I wanted her to reach her climax so we could do what I always did with Trixie.
Fifteen seconds was all it took since I began. It never occurred that the princess of the sun was a gusher, just like Trixie. I gave her a minute to catch her breath before mounting the princess and pressing my marehood against hers. Pinning her down, I began to grind along her, eliciting a giggle and a soft moan from her. I kept a pretty slow tempo, counting the number of motions I made against her tingling nethers. I changed my position on her and wrapped myself around one of her hind legs, using it to press myself against her marehood even harder. I ground against her with all my might, and within a few minutes, she was gyrating along with me. I managed to spread my vaginal lips apart to accept her climax. I could feel the energy rushing inside me, looking for an exit from Celestia’s womb to find itself inside of my own.
I sighed with satisfaction as I found myself drawing strength from the juices inside of me. I felt powerful. Again, whether it was Necrotic power that caused this empowering sensation from her or not, I was uncertain. I fell from her leg and lay there across from her, panting. It occurred to me that I’d wanted to do this with her for a long time. But I knew a real relationship couldn’t have ever come of it. And I’d promised Trixie I wouldn’t fall in love with another pony. Celestia was no exception. I loved her, but as a friend and teacher… with benefits it seemed.
I began to wonder if Princess Celestia wasn’t that experienced after all as I noticed she’d fainted shortly after having finished filling me up. With that in mind, I drained the energy her juices carried and rolled off of the bed. I had very little strength in my hindquarters after that and I was using my magic to keep the juices inside. I waddled over to the bathroom and allowed the toilet to take what remained of our intimate encounter from within my womb. With a sigh of utter content, I flushed the toilet and cleaned myself up in the shower. Seeing Celestia was still passed out, I dropped my visage and took the opportunity to take a look at myself in the mirror. Though just cleaned, my body had darkened to a sickly Indigo colour and my mane, once the colour my coat now took, had become almost pitch black. The magenta streak in the mane had turned crimson. I could feel myself growing in power, but the physical manifestations were becoming increasingly obvious. I barely recognised myself anymore. The mirror seemed more like a window than anything else. With a sigh, I brought up my camouflage once again and I saw the pristine student Celestia loved and thought she’d just slept with.
“Time’s running out.” I said aloud. I left Celestia in my room and began to wander the hallways of the ever familiar castle. I would miss these walls, these wonderfully artistic yet hideously boring walls.
“Have fun did you?” Trixie asked from behind me. I smiled and turned to face her, Rainbow Dash was also present, a proud grin on her face.
“Figured I’d have to take something memorable with me when we left. I get the feeling we won’t be coming back here for a good long while. At least not without chains around our hooves and crystal inhibitors around our horns.” I said. Their faces dropped much like my camouflage.
“Is it really getting so dangerous?” Dash asked. I nodded, revealing to them the changes my session with my mentor had brought upon.
“Woah… she must have been very good to make you change that much.” Trixie said. I chuckled and returned the camouflage before somepony saw what I really looked like.
“Remind me to give you girls a demonstration when we get home. In the meantime, I have some guards to brainwash. Good night, girls, I’ll see you in the morning.” With that, I turned around and left them to their own devices.
These days, rarely anything surprises me, though both Princesses have really tried. Even now Celestia still teaches me things, though the lessons can’t be considered academic anymore. Luna had the same idea. She was very surprised to know I knew her sister’s favourite method of intimacy, but I learned another one just as effective.
With my features worsening over the course of time as a result of Necrotic practice, It’s becoming harder and harder for me to hide my features. Fluttershy noticed a slight discolouration with my coat and wondered if I’d somehow become Discorded. It took controlling Angel Bunny and making him… make caviar on the floor to distract the surprisingly persistent Pegasus.
On the plus side, research in to the stealthy branch of Necromancy has allowed me to learn how to perform magic without the visible illumination of my horn (as well as the sound). Stealth casting Necromancy has proved useful over the past few days. I’ve managed to make progress reports to Celestia regarding the killer, though mention of Rainbow Dash’s attack was left out for obvious reasons.
On the matter of reports, the changeling I’d sent to act as my spy returned with promising feedback. Chrysalis had found an alternate method of feeding her changelings and had no immediate plans on revenge. And as I’d hoped, my control over that single changeling spread throughout the hive like a virus, giving me sub-conscious control over all of them. I’d become the new Queen, and Chrysalis had become my General. I’ve since learned how to communicate telepathically with them, and I find Chrysalis to be the most… pleasantly resistant. Since then, I’ve had them constructing a second Laboratory within their hive. I took the chemicals into consideration and made sure they only made the tools. I would create Changeling-safe chemicals should I ever need that place.
Fire Reign ‘reported for party’ (her words) the night we returned. I’ve considered probing her mind to the point she’s little more than a mindless slave, but I found her rare pyromancy skills to be too good to destroy, not to mention her personality. Sadly, the night didn’t remain young forever, and very little in the way of the original plan got done as Pinkie somehow made it past my amalgamation of magical barriers and complained about having thrown a themeless party without her. To this day, Pinkie’s abnormal ability to defy logic and physics remains a threat to my secrecy. I fear the worst for her as it would pain me to have to kill her before the time for me to reveal myself arrives. I’ve expressed these concerns with Rainbow Dash and Trixie. They agree wholeheartedly with me that killing a friend would be a very regrettable action. I hold on to the hope that Pinkie subconsciously knows when to act and when not to.
I feel I’m getting closer to the killer, and it occurs to me that his capture is coming too swiftly. My plan is moving ahead of schedule without my permission, and that cannot be allowed to happen. Fortunately, I’m able to plan around this little mishap. Though I don’t believe Dash would be particularly pleased with my choice. I’ll have to discuss it with her.
With a deep sigh, I placed my quill down on my desk and shoved the book into the drawer. I turned all the lights off and made my way up the steps. Trixie and Dash both sat on the couch, doing their own thing. Dash was reading the latest issue of Daring Do. It was good to see some things hadn’t changed. Trixie’s excited face drew my attention and I sat next to her. No words were needed for me to initiate the conversation as I knew she was hastily waiting to spill the beans.
“You won’t believe what I discovered,” she began. I remained silent, smiling sleepily at her. My eyes showed her that she could go on.” I was going through some of the documents you shared with me about reducing the magical output of spells, then I found myself reading Starswirl’s Grimoire of spells and came across one in particular. ‘The Multiplex Incantation’.” I wondered where she was going with this, but at this point she was on a role. “You’ve been saying you’re finding it increasingly difficult to keep up your disguise. If you fused the ‘Output Reduction’ spell with the ‘Multiplex Incantation’ spell, you should have no trouble maintaining your disguise when you’ve activated it multiple times, each one overlapping the other.” she concluded. My smile widened slightly as her theory made complete sense to me.
“You’re right. It would work. But I think I’ll wait until tomorrow to experiment with the fusion of spells. I’m exhausted.” I replied, yawning for effect. Trixie looked worriedly at me.
“Are you alright, honey? You’ve been sleeping a lot lately.” she said. Dash made the effort to look up from her book and side with Trixie.
“Yeah, your eyes have a whole different redness to them than they’re supposed to, not to mention those bags. I haven’t seen anypony that bad since Applejack had to try and buck the entire orchard.” I chuckled slightly as I recalled the results of Applejack’s stubbornness.
“I’m fine. It’s just the stress of staying three steps ahead of both the princesses and… well everypony. Don’t worry, a good night’s sleep and I’ll good to–.”
Suddenly, there was a scream from outside. A mare’s by the sound of it. Dash dropped her book and made for the door. She kept it open for us as we ran through. Together, we hurried as fast as we could to the source of the scream. To our surprise and deepest sadness, the one who screamed was Fluttershy. I didn’t recognise her scream at first because she very rarely made any noises above a mouse’s. But the fact that she screamed that saddened us. It was who she’d screamed at and began crying for. Other ponies made their way toward us and gathered in a circle around Fluttershy who held the limp body of Rarity, her once snow white pelt coated in her blood. Fluttershy sobbed louder than I’d ever heard her.
“Rarity?” Dash said, unable to believe her eyes. My own mind and body went rigid. Information flooded me. The killer was back, he was supposed to have left the day we left for Canterlot and before now, he never backtracked to a town he’d already killed in. Through my vision, I saw Dash rush up to Fluttershy and Rarity and force the onlookers back so Fluttershy could have some space. I heard Trixie whisper into my ear.
“Can’t you revive her once this is over with?”
“No. Her death has already been witnessed. And disguising her like I did with you won’t work either. Rarity was too regal to act like somepony else, not to mention she would overdramatise the situation after waking up.” I whispered back.
“I see, so she’s gone for good?”
“Yes.”
I felt so numb. Sadness over her death escaped me as did my anger toward the killer for hindering my plans yet again. The guards would be doubled as would their search, and the possibility of the Library being searched was 50/50, since half of the royal guard knew to keep away; but the chances of somepony not indoctrinated by myself were equally so, therefore my Library would have to be disguised once more, just like myself.
I tried to push past my numbness and sympathise with Fluttershy. Rarity had become Fluttershy’s very best friend. While she and Dash had a history together, Rarity had completely opened up her life to Fluttershy, even giving the now crying Pegasus her dream of being a star and working with the best fashionistas there were. That, topped with the weekly spa dates, nopony could compare to Rarity when it came to Fluttershy’s trust and love. I didn’t need to research either of them to know this.
“I must be truly evil to think what I’m thinking about this situation.” I whispered. Trixie said nothing, but did as I had done and waited for me to continue.
“I should be sad for Fluttershy, but all I can do is see this as an opportunity to…add another living specimen to our…community.” Trixie turned to me.
“You want to indoctrinate Fluttershy? Her of all ponies?” she asked, slightly louder than she should have. It was because of her increased tone that Rainbow Dash, whose hearing had been enhanced twicefold, overheard her. She held Fluttershy in her hooves and quickly raised her head to look at me. Her expression was unreadable at the time.
“She’ll need to be watched. You don’t know how she gets when she’s angry. She’d frighten Discord into spending a millennia on the moon. Fluttershy is very unstable right now. She’s not going to be fearing much as sadness and rage take hold of her.” I said loud enough for Dash to hear. The blue pegasus’ ears drooped and her eyes showed understanding. It finally pained me to see what lay before me. One of my only friends gone forever, another on the brink of madness on a whole different scale, and an undead lover in the same area, being fed curiosity and sympathy from the surrounding ponies. What hurt even more was the young voice that begged to be let through. Sweetie Belle emerged from between my legs and gazed upon the scene before her.
The cry a young filly makes when they see the aftermath of a murdered relative is very different to the sound they make when they don’t get something they want. When the latter is the case, they make that slow and loud whiny wail that they’re known for, but with a case like this, Sweetie Belle’s cries were something akin to a fusion between a scream and a crying fox. I was somewhat glad that such a sound could still reach my heart, despite the painful reaction it gave out. I finally felt tears escape me as I watched Sweetie Belle slowly crawl along the ground to her sister, taking in a hoof-full of her mane and burying her face into it. Sadly, the mane did nothing to muffle her cries. Applebloom cried silently into her sister’s leg and as Scootaloo was absent a sister-figure who was among the scene, she took solace in my presence. I followed by Applejack’s example and lay down to Scootaloo’s level so I could hug her tightly. She did what the other two crusaders did and buried her face in my mane. I would not envy Rainbow Dash when she returned from Fluttershy’s side only to try and comfort another close to her.
After five more minutes of crying and useless sympathies from the crowd, the doctors and nurses arrived and carried Rarity off with Sweetie Belle refusing to let go. Fluttershy had found somepony else to cling to, namely Dash. As the group dispersed, Rainbow Dash helped Fluttershy into the Library while I carried Scootaloo inside. Why did it have to take somepony to die in order for ponies to actually want to come into the Library? I closed and locked the door behind me, mainly to reassure Scootaloo that nopony was going to get inside to kill us too. I sat her beside Fluttershy who had taken to the fireplace and sat beside it’s warmth.
I looked at Dash and Trixie both, giving them the look that said I wanted to speak to them privately. They seemed reluctant to comply and given my tired state, I was reluctant to even remain awake. We took refuge in the kitchen away from the gloomy sources.
“So I guess resurrecting Rarity is out of the question, then?” Dash asked. I repeated the response I gave Trixie and she nodded in understanding.
“The one time her acting skills would be used and they’re no good compared to reality.” she grumbled.
“Couldn’t we rewright her memory? Give her a whole new life with similar goals?” Trixie asked.
“That would be pointless. Why bring her back if we’re just going to turn her into something that isn’t really her?” I replied. Trixie sighed in defeat.
“What’s even worse, is that without her, the Elements of Harmony won’t work.” Dash stated. That hadn’t occurred to me yet, but it was rather moot.
“To be honest, Dash, I doubt the Elements of Harmony would work anymore either way. Not since you died that night.”
“Touché.” she said, sitting down. There was a moment’s pause among us as we wondered what else there was to talk about.
“So what are we going to do about them?” Trixie asked, motioning her head through the doorway to Fluttershy and Scootaloo. “I mean, I know you already planned to have Fluttershy join our cause, but Scootaloo’s just an innocent filly who really doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
I sighed, trying to think of a way to explain things. “Scootaloo might not be directly involved with tonight’s events, but we have to remember that Rainbow Dash is for all intents and purposes, her older sister. She too has lost someone dear to her recently; she just doesn’t know it yet. With that in mind…” I sighed again, wishing my headache which had recently formed would go away. “We’ll have to try and prevent more losses to our friendship circle. I never wanted anypony but Trixie to know about what it is we’re doing, but the killer has escalated things to near breaking point.
“Sweetie Belle’s going to grow up wanting revenge against the killer. Given her current age, she’ll have no trouble accepting what we are. Scootaloo is in shock, but she idolises Rainbow Dash to a fault; a fault that would work in our favour. The real problem is Applejack. She can’t lie to save her life and if she were to blow our cover to anypony before we’re ready… I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll all die for good.”
There was silence throughout the entire tree, save the snoring of the still sleeping dragon upstairs.
“Then there’s Fluttershy.” Dash stated.
“Yes, Fluttershy will be very unpredictable. Like Sweetie belle, she’ll want justice for what’s happened to the one closest to her. I imagine she’ll try to raise Sweetie Belle as her own, despite the fact that the filly has parents back in Manehattan.” Trixie responded.
“No, they were killed by the killer three months ago. Rarity hid that fact from Sweetie. She planned on telling her next week.” I said.
“So she’s got nopony?” Trixie asked.
“She’ll have Fluttershy; their goals will draw them to each other.” I replied. It was then I looked up from my droopy stance and saw Scootaloo peeking at us from behind the side of the entryway. I froze in place. How much did she hear? Thinking quickly, I pretended not to notice her, though my peripherals were trained on her from that moment on.
“So, Dash, I think you should explain to Scootaloo what’s happening. You may have to use your ‘awesome’ words to describe to her exactly what a necromancer is.” Rainbow Dash nodded in confirmation. Things seemed settled when Trixie addressed something.
“Wait, what if they refuse us? What will we do? Telling them could put us in more danger than we’re prepared for.” There was another moment’s pause, but I already had the answer.
“I’m prepared for it.” I said, saying no more on the matter. I could tell that unnerved them as they cautiously left the kitchen area. I looked ahead to see Scootaloo sitting uncomfortably beside Fluttershy who had her head drooped down, her mane covering her entire face. I sat down on the couch and leaned my head back, closing my eyes. I listened to the beginning of the worst idea in Equestrian history.
“Scoots… there’s something I have to tell you.” Dash began.
Our confessions to Scootaloo and Fluttershy went surprisingly well. I believe Scootaloo’s eavesdropping gave her the required amount of time to process the news. She seemed more than willing to help us in our endeavors. As I had predicted, Fluttershy also wished to help us, however, we could all tell her mind was focused more on finding a way to discover who the killer was, and to find the most painful and slow way to take her revenge.
Fire Reign has proven to be more valuable than I thought. She has updated me on the movements of the Princesses’ armies, and I have managed to evade discovery on countless occasions. My abilities have slowly begun to fail my disguise, even with the enhanced spell Trixie discovered. I fear the time has come for us to leave our lives behind. My appearance has changed too drastically for the excuse I’d planned to give Celestia to be valid.
I’ve shared this information with the others, and while they’ve fully agreed with me, I can tell it’s painful for them to abandon their livelihoods for the sake of survival. What’s worse, is that the inner circle of friends is breaking apart. Upon careful consideration, we’ve elected not to let the Apple family, nor Pinkie Pie in on the loop. Not only are they too innocent to be involved in our problems, but I later realised that they were, regrettably of no use to us.
Preparations for the move have taken place. Rainbow Dash has retired from her position at the Cloudsdale Weather Corp., Scootaloo has made the effort to leave the Crusaders without so much as an explanation which I am told has saddened Sweetie Belle even further. What surprised me the most was Fluttershy. She went so far as to abandon her animals, including her beloved Angel bunny. Not a tear was shed afterward from the often emotionally unstable Pegasus.
Tending to more recent matters, I’ve been sent a summons from Princess Luna. The matter seemed more urgent than last time. I am going there today to answer the summons and I am bringing Trixie and Rainbow Dash with me. Fluttershy and Scootaloo still had preparations to make before getting ready.
“Twilight, can you help me out here? This suitcase is heavier than one of Rarity’s travel packs.” Dash asked, struggling to lift my… that wasn’t a suitcase.
“Careful with that, Dash! There’s fragile equipment in there that if broken, could mix formulas together to create a powerful explosion.” I warned, moving away from my Diary to help Dash with the chest of scientific equipment. I decided to forgo the magic and use manual labour to help her out. Everypony’s things had been packed into a neat pile on a trolley. The trolley was facing the wall where a large runic hexagram had been drawn on in my favourite purple ink.
“That’s about it. Everypony’s packed and ready to go. Now run this by me again Twi?” Dash asked, staring at the hexagram on the wall.
“Alright, so that’s a one way portal and is only powerful enough for one use. Should my disguise fail during this summons, we can use it to send our things through as well as ourselves, and once it’s closed behind us, we won’t have to worry about them following us afterward. To make sure, I’ve set a trap on the exit point to damage the hexagram after ten seconds so the entry point can’t be copied.” I replied, using hoof gestures to help her understand where I was going with this. She seemed to understand enough.
“Okay, but what about Canterlot? I heard the Princesses put up a spell that prevents teleportation into and out of the castle. If were found out, how will we escape?” she asked. I cleared my throat and began bucking the air to hint at the response. She smiled a bit.
“Daring Do style, alright!” she seemed happy enough.
Trixie came into the Library with only a small case not big enough to fit Scootaloo. She tossed the small case on top of the pile and took a seat beside me.
“That’s all you’re bringing?” Dash teased.
“That’s all I have.” Trixie replied with coldness to her voice that shut Dash up, filling her with shame.
“Soon, all of this is what we three will have, together.” I said, drawing the two of them closer to me. They seemed to brighten up a little as they leaned comfortably into me.
“Princess Luna has organised for us to have the Private car with the tinted windows on the train. I plan on getting some sleep on the ride to Canterlot. You two will have to amuse yourselves or each other out of hearing range, please. I’m going to need all the strength I can muster for this disguise to seem even remotely believable.” I said. They both nodded and leaned away, allowing me to reinforce the camouflage. A purple aura seemed to get sucked into my body as it and I were surrounded by black lightning with a reddish glow around it. The magic seemed to collapse in on itself and my original form took hold, mostly.
With a heavy sigh, I nodded to the two of them. “Alright, let’s make tracks for the train. I want to get this over with as soon as possible. Things are moving faster than we are, and that disturbs me greatly.” I said.
“Right.”
“Right.”
They both said, following me side by side.
The Private car was luxurious and spacious with a fully accessible bar and facilities. It was nicer than our house, which was so sad. I wasted no time in removing my camouflage and proceeded to the most comfortable thing in that car. An actual bed lay before me, fully equipped with fresh sheets and heated blankets. I wriggled into the sheets and felt the warmth overtake me. It was so nice.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the car door. I was so relaxed, I forgot to veil my appearance before letting the guest in. To my surprise, Aloe and Lotus entered, looking as professional as ever.
“Good afternoon, Mizz Sparkle, Ve vere hired by Prinzess Luna Herself to cater to your needs on ze journey…”Lotus stopped as she noticed my shocked expression as well as my darkened features. Instinct drove me to quickly enter their minds.
“Ignore my features, I look no different than I usually do to you both.” I commanded. As I’d hoped, they both nodded like zombies for an instant.
“Yez ma’am.” they said in unison, dropping their glazed looks afterward. They began to address me as they would have were I my usual old self.
“How may ve service you today mizz Sparkle?’ they asked, again in unison. I wondered how far their services went regarding private sessions. I decided to explore the theory.
“I’ll take the full package, thank you, girls.” I replied. Aloe and Lotus both smiled and prepared themselves. Lotus positioned me on the bed in the way required for the beginning of the session. The warmth of the mattress felt nice against my body, and soon, the hooves popping my spine added to that heavenly feeling.
Aloe and Lotus both rubbed the small of my back and around my shoulders, stretching the bones and giving the joints the relief they so desperately cried out for. I was half asleep when I felt myself being carefully and professionally rolled over onto my back. With my new sensitive surface touching the warm mattress beneath me, I moaned in delight at the sensation. Two sets of hooves began pressing into the muscles on my torso, stretching the sore spots. It wasn’t long before I felt one pair of hooves working its way down my sides, while the other pair fondled my breasts. I felt great. All the stress began to disappear like dirt under a soapy shower.
The hooves trailing down my sides rested on my flanks, rubbing my cutie marks in circular motions. It was divine. Shortly afterward, I felt something familiar in texture and roughness, but different in shape. As it went into my nethers, I recognised the sensation of a tongue. I wondered who it was that was eating me out, but I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes.
“Iz diz good, Mizz Sparkle?” one of them asked; Aloe, judging by the slightly older tone in her voice. I felt Lotus nip on my clitoris ever so gently, and I couldn’t form a response. All that came out was a high pitched moan.
“Ve will take zat as a yes, zen.” Aloe added. I didn’t really care about whether or not they got their answer, I wanted Lotus’ teeth around my clit, biting ever so slightly harder than before. I went so far as to transmit this idea into her mind and she complied. My legs reflexively wrapped around Lotus’ head, forcing her nose up against my sex.
“Lotus, I believe Mizz Sparkle vants ze Grand Finalé.” Aloe teased. I wondered what the buck the Grand Finalé was. Fortunately, I found out. I found myself French kissing Aloe’s sex while Lotus positioned her own to connect with mine. While Lotus rubbed her marehood against mine, I could hear them making out. One of them, I was sure was Aloe had both her hooves pressed against my breasts, massaging them as she moved back and forth along my face, rubbing herself against me. I hated the name of this position; it implied it would end. Fortunately, it ended with an explosion from all three of us. I felt myself releasing my juices into Lotus’s vagina and she reciprocated. Aloe came in my mouth, filling it in a matter of seconds. I was forced to swallow some of it so as not to let any go to waste.
There was a moment’s pause as I felt Aloe turn around and open my mouth with hers. I thought ahead and forced the remaining cum in my mouth, into hers. We exchanged her cum as well as our saliva by then, She’d left we with half of what remained, and I ended up giving Lotus the rest. She swallowed without hesitation. Afterwards, I managed to stay awake long enough to see Aloe literally drinking Lotus’ and my combined cum from her vagina. It was such a hot sight. I fell asleep as I began to feel the same thing happening to me.
I woke up to Trixie gently shaking me awake. She began to say something, but it came out muffled as I was too tired to acknowledge what she said. It took me a good long moment to realise that she said we’d arrived. With a sigh, I got up off of the bed, just then noticing Aloe and Lotus were still there with me, sound asleep. I smiled at them both as I placed my disguise on. It was relatively easier than before. I began to understand that there was a correlation between Necromancy and Sex. Things always seemed easier after sex. I’d have to test the limits of extortion relating to the matter later onwards. Perhaps Fire Reign would prove useful in that regard.
As we made our way off of the train, we spotted a pair of Royal Night Guards. As they made eye contact with us, they nodded their heads in unison. They were here for us. We approached them casually, and I realised that they were two that I’d managed to take over on my last trip.
“Do you know why the Princess has summoned me?” I asked them. Unfortunately, neither one knew. This didn’t bode well. The guards led me to a carriage which rode off the instant we stepped inside. Taking a seat, I began to fear that all of this was a prelude to imprisonment, that Luna had already figured out about me and was luring me into a false sense of security, like I believed Celestia had been doing the last time. I didn’t want to express these concerns with the others, lest they try to force our escape before we found out the truth. I kept up the façade for their sakes; all the while worrying that at the end of this carriage ride was a magically sealed jail cell with my name on it.
My worries were laid to rest as we three were led to the chambers of Princess Luna, where we met the princess herself. Over the weeks her presence had become somewhat diminished due to the regularity with which I saw her. It was then that I understood why Nobility had difficulty discerning the boundaries of their rights.
“Princess Luna, you summoned us?” I asked, addressing my presence to her. Luna looked up with a less than relaxed expression. She looked like she’d remained awake during the day, which given her acclimation towards the night made it more than difficult for her.
“Twilight Sparkle, thank my sister you’ve come. I have a matter of great urgency I must discuss with you.” she said. She abandoned all formality and ran towards us, meeting us half way. She slid to a halt before me and held me in an embrace.
“Princess?” I asked, concerned about her approach. Luna detached herself from me after another moment. Her eyes were bloodshot, making me think she’d spent more than one day awake. Whatever was troubling her had been doing so for at least a week.
“Twilight, I fear something far worse than the killer is roaming around Equestria.” she began.
“Worse? How is that possible?” I asked, showing my worry to her. Luna’s ears drooped in sadness and her eyes showed a slither of guilt.
“I don’t know how it happened, but I fear something from the past has surfaced to the present day. Back when I first began turning from my sister as Nightmare Moon, I created a type of magic that got out of hoof and went beyond my control. The ponies loyal to me became my army by default, but were ultimately consumed by the darkness of which the magic originated. It was originally meant to be the last resort against Discord, should the Elements of Harmony fail and…” she paused for a moment, her stress showing in her laboured breathing. I approached her and pulled her into an embrace, trying to calm her down.
“This magic is stronger than the Elements of Harmony?” I asked. Luna nodded, a tear coming to her eye.
“I thought I’d collected all the remnants of that magic and sealed it away in the vault, including advanced tomes.” she said, clearly thinking out loud.
“What is this magic called, Princess?” I asked. Luna sniffed and looked up at me as if placing the fate of Equestria in my hooves.
“It’s called Necromancy,” she replied. I froze up, rearing my head back from her. “It’s a dark and powerful magic meant to resurrect and control the dead. It was how I’d planned on conquering my sister all those years ago. As soon as you brought me back, I asked Celestia for aid in finding all the Necromancy tomes so no more Necromancers could be made, but I fear there is one out there somewhere. I can feel it. Unfortunately, I can’t tell where they are, just that they’re in Equestria.” she began to blubber as she revealed what she considered her greatest shame. What got my attention the most was the fact that there were tomes on Necromancy. So it wasn’t a new magic at all, but an old one, one that predicated Nightmare Moon herself. More importantly, there was text on the subject. Advanced text that would boost my research beyond its current level.
“Princess. In order to combat this Necromancer threat, and perhaps the killer as well, I think it would be prudent for me to examine the tomes and maybe create a form of magic that could dispel Necromancy altogether.” I said, showing my determination through my body language. Luna looked at me for a moment and seemed to consider the proposal. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“Very well,” she said. “They’re in the vault. Take this key,” she teleported a key from a secret location to me and let it fall into my hoof. “That will let the Guards know you have access, and will also let you into the vault itself. The tomes are inside a treasure chest at the far end of the vault with the word ‘Dangerous’ stamped across the front.” she finished. I nodded to her and then looked to Trixie, levitating the key over to her.
“Did you get all that?” I asked. Trixie nodded, taking the key and slung it around her neck. “Then I’ll leave you to get the tomes. Dash, you go too. I’ll remain with Princess Luna and do what I can to reassure her that everything is going to go according to plan.” I ordered. Trixie nodded and Dash saluted. Almost immediately, the two were gone. I smiled at them as things seemed to be looking up. It was time; I just had to wait a little longer for them to get the tomes and we could finally break free of our disguises.
“Princess, I know you’re worried, and I can tell that this Necromancy business is troubling for you. You feel ashamed that such a magic could exist, right?” I asked. Luna nodded, resting her head against me. I stroked her face with my hoof and licked the tip of her horn, eliciting a pleasurable gasp from her.
“It’s alright. You shouldn’t continue to be blamed for the past. Celestia forgave you, and that’s all that should matter. Besides… knowing what you did doesn’t change my view of you in the slightest.” I said, bringing her chin up to look at me. I then planted a kiss on her lips, slithering my tongue past her teeth to touch hers. I watched as she closed her eyes, wanting to rest in the passion I was sure to give her. This was my plan; a parting gift to the one who gave me the power I needed to destroy the mass murderer, the one who had killed Rarity, and unbeknownst to most of the others, Rainbow Dash as well.
I leaned forward, rolling Luna onto her back. She wanted this more than anything. Wanting to stall for time as much as I could, I deliberately let the romance stretch out for at least five minutes before I moved on to more intimate areas. It was just as I was about to begin digging into Luna’s marehood when we were interrupted by somepony I really didn’t like.
That blonde bastard with the superiority complex waltzed in like a magnificent poof and addressed Luna, completely ignoring the position she was in.
“Auntie! One of the subjects was talking about me behind my back. I want him executed!” Prince Blueblood cried. They say ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me’. They’d obviously never met the Prince when that saying came into fruition. Luna tried to straighten herself up, but being robbed of something she felt she really needed right then and there took a toll on how well she could fix herself up.
“Were these things they said bad things?” Luna asked.
Blueblood shook his head. “No, but it doesn’t matter. It’s the principle that counts, the fact that they spoke about me behind my back. I won’t stand for it. I ordered their execution, but the guards said they required your consent. So I want you to give it to them.” he replied. Luna and I both hung our heads in annoyance, groaning our displeasure at the extremely meaningless interruption.
“We got the tomes.” I heard Trixie call in my head. This caused me to smile; now it was time.
“You know what your problem is, Prince? You’re spoiled.” I said. Blueblood looked at me as if only just then noticing I was in the room.
“What are you doing here, Miss Sparkle? And what do you mean by that accusation?” he asked casually. I grinned at him. I’d wanted to address him like this for a long time.
“Well, Princess Luna here summoned me for a meeting that was supposed to be off the record. However, that’s escalated into something much more interesting. As for what I was doing before you came in here, I was just about to fuck her so silly, she wouldn’t know up from down.” I saw Luna blush out of the corner of my eye at that. “Secondly, that’s not an accusation, it’s observation. You’re a spoiled little brat who wasn’t reprimanded, because those who should have been authorised to do so hesitated out of fear of repercussions.” I couldn’t help but giggle as he lost his temper with me.
“How dare you?! Auntie, I want this mare executed. Or send her to the moon or something!” he demanded. Luna sat upright and hesitated to do so.
“I’m afraid your days of ordering ponies around are over, Blueblood.” I said. Without the use of my horn, I threw my hoof towards the door and Blueblood followed almost instantly afterward, slamming against it, all four hooves spread apart.
“Twilight?!” Luna cried, unsure what to make of the sudden change in authority. I ignored her and approached Blueblood who was struggling to break free of my invisible hold.
“You know. I had some friends during my youth. Not friends like the ones I have now, but ponies I bothered to give the time of day to acknowledge, much the same way as you. I heard from them all that you’d punished them for doing the smallest of things; from giggling in your general direction, to accidentally farting out of nervousness.” I raised a hoof and threw it across his face, creating a bruise on that supposedly perfect face. I didn’t see the appeal.
“Twilight!” Luna protested. I used the magic from my horn to paralyse her and cut off her magic.
“Sorry, Princess, but this has to be done. There’s no room for dictators in this day and age. Fair and honest is the way of Equestria, but it’s not his way.” I said, turning to Luna. I gave her one last passionate kiss before returning to Blueblood.
“Those friends of mine really didn’t like you. They confided in me because supposedly, I had immunity from you as Celestia’s personal student. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but right now, it doesn’t matter. What does matter though, is how I’m going to bring justice to you for those you’ve hurt.”
“Auntie, please stop her. I don’t like this, stop her!” Blueblood tried to say, but as he finished that last word, I wrapped his tongue in my magical aura, as well as the only proof that he was in fact a stallion and not just a very butch and bitchy mare.
“Which should I rip out; your tongue… or your balls? You know, it’s surprising to see that you actually have anything resembling balls, given the fact that you never seem to have any use for them. You’re not exactly the tactile type, are you?” I asked. Blueblood whimpered in fear at his eventual demise.
“You know, I think tongue would be best. Since neutering you won’t really change you that much, not even an octave; whereas ripping out your tongue would put an end to your piddley-assed excuses for execution orders.” I decided.
“Twilight, please, don’t do this.” Luna said from behind me. I scoffed at her.
“I’m sorry, Princess. But if I recall, this was the norm back when you first ruled with Celestia. Anypony who spoke out of order would have their tongue ripped out. I don’t know about you, but I’m just making history, no pun intended.” I replied. I threw my head back and an ear-splitting shriek came from Blueblood as his tongue was literally torn apart from his mouth. It shot out of him like an arrow, stopping a few feet from him. I wanted him to see what had happened. I learned from many fictitious novels that seeing the results of torture often built more fear and horror in the eyes of the victim.
Blueblood’s face was dripping blood, some of it falling onto his chest and trailing down his body. His cries were gargled and incoherent words were attempted, but ultimately failed. In the end, he ended up wailing.
“Ah, music to my ears.” I turned to Luna. “I feel better after that interruption.” I smiled at Luna who’s face wore shock and horror like a mask perfectly sculpted to it.
“Twilight, what did you do? Why?!” she cried, tears falling from her face in streams. I giggled at her questions.
“Well, I think I explained to him why, and it’s obvious what I did. I’m sorry this upsets you so much, Luna. But other than that, I have no regrets.” I went in to kiss her again, but she tore her face away, growling her disapproval at me in the process. I just chuckled at her response.
“Well, I’d best be off; got a killer to hunt down.” I said, letting Bluebood fall from the wall. He remained where he was, shaking his hooves around his face, as if contemplating whether or not to touch his blood stained face. With his tongue still in the air, I let it fall before him.
“You’re kind of lucky, you know? You should be dead from the blood loss, but notice how there’s only enough blood to make you look like you’ve had a few too many cherry tomatoes. That’s my handy work. Your tongue, or what’s left of it should close up within the next five minutes. Good luck ordering executions now.” I said to him. Opening the door, I took a step out before pausing and turning back, looking Luna in the eye.
“Oh and one more thing,” I could see the anger in her eyes. If I were to get caught, I would not survive long enough to go to trial. “I’m the Necromancer.” As the door closed behind me, I caught a glimpse of Luna’s anger turn to absolute shock and sadness as the events played out in her head. Perhaps I would get away with severing Blueblood’s tongue if they believed it was due to the corruption of Necromancy. I heard the Princess scream in frustration behind closed doors. The windows along the hallway shone the moon’s light on me, and as I entered one of the shadows and emerged into the moonlight again, I had discarded my disguise and I appeared as I was now. Almost blackened with a blood red streak through my mane and red bloodshot eyes.
“It’s time. Head for the secret base.” I commanded Trixie.
“Yes, Twilight.” she replied in my mind. I grinned at the moon as I passed by another window.
It’s been four months since my true identity was revealed to Equestria. Though it saddens me deeply to have to abandon my old life, I take comfort in the fact that some of it journeyed with me. Trixie has abandoned her disguise and appears as her old self to the others. It was a great shock to all but Rainbow Dash as I’d failed to mention her true identity, a small mishap on my part.
Scootaloo is missing her friends greatly, and we all know the feeling. However, she takes comfort in the knowledge that Fluttershy is looking after Sweetie Belle. She even receives personal letters from the filly in addition to the surveillance reports I receive from Fluttershy herself.
Fire Reign has proven extremely submissive to mere suggestions. She’s reported to me in person and forgotten the meeting ever took place as soon as she returned to her post. Due to our revelation, the killer has become the second priority of the Royal Guard and I now stand at the top of the food chain as the ‘most wanted’. I never believed such a thing possible until I began walking this path, it’d be lonely were I not with my two lovers and Scootaloo.
An interesting development occurred yesterday when the young filly asked to be a test subject. Rainbow Dash, playing the big sister shot that notion down faster than she could fly. While I dislike having been denied a new subject, I agree with Rainbow Dash. I’d rather not perform any tests on my friends, least of all a filly. Applejack was the exception, though I was extremely careful not to alter her appearance or personality. If anything she seemed to have more strength before we left. I almost wished I had taken her with me; the thought of those powerful hooves doing things to me…
I shuddered as images and sensations surfaced to the forefront of my mind.
… But what’s done is done. And I’m sure Applejack would never forgive me or the rest of us for doing what we’ve done. While I could buy her silence through keeping my mouth shut about her incestuous feelings for her sister, I’d rather not have the hassle of dealing with an untrusting ex-friend…
Writing that last word hurt more than I expected it to. I slammed the book shut and threw it across the room. The book’s path contained beakers that were either smashed on impact or knocked to the ground and smashed there. The noise attracted the attention of Rainbow Dash who was in the lab with me at the time, reading up on a copy of ‘Science and Magic for beginners’.
“You alright there, Twilight?” she asked, looking up from her book at me. I sighed in frustration as I rubbed my temples, trying to relieve my mind of the troubles filling it.
“I just know Applejack’s angry with us. If not at what we’ve done, then for leaving her out of the loop.” I said, addressing my problem to the Pegasus. Perhaps a fresh perspective would give me an answer.
“I’m sure she thinks you kept her out of the loop for her safety as well as her family’s. Trust me Twi, Applejack’s not the kind to hold a grudge. I’m surprised that’s even an issue. I’m more worried about being on the ‘Most Wanted’ list.” she replied. What she said relaxed me, until she mentioned the wanted list.
With a groan of annoyance, I trotted over to her and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Dash. I’m gonna go and get some Lunch, you want anything?”
“I could do with a tomato and lettuce sandwich if you’re making.” she replied. I smiled at her and nodded, heading for the exit. “Oh, and Twilight?” she called just as I reached the door. I stopped and turned to her.
“Yes?” I asked.
Dash closed her book and turned in her chair to look directly at me. She had a smile on her face and she looked extremely happy. “Thanks for siding with me when Scoots asked to be a test subject.” she said. I grinned at her.
“Of course, I do still have morals and standards, Dash. Fillies are off the table, pun intended.” I replied, giving her a wink. She chuckled before returning to her book.
I spotted Trixie in the kitchen with Scootaloo. She was teaching the Pegasus how to boil and mash potatoes.
“I thought Mashed potatoes were a dinner thing, or breakfast if it’s leftovers.” I interrupted, walking up to them. I ruffled Scootaloo’s mane as Trixie explained the situation to me.
“Twilight, It’s four in the afternoon. You and Rainbow Dash have lost track of time again.” Trixie stated. I giggled as a thought came to mind.
“Oh, Dash will be so embarrassed to find out she’d gotten so engrossed in a science guide we missed Lunch.” I teased. The girls giggled at this. “Truth be told, I kept her near me so she would act as an alarm clock when she got hungry. Guess that plan was a bust.” I said, sighing. I made my way to the cupboard and pulled out the bread, then I opened the fridge and pulled out some lettuce and a tomato. I fixed Dash her sandwich with these three things and grabbed myself an apple.
“We’ll be in the lab until dinner’s ready, if you need us.” I said, carrying Dash’s sandwich on a plate.
“Actually, Twilight I’d like to ask you something.” Scootaloo called out. I stopped with the apple in my mouth and looked to her, waiting for her to say what she needed to say.
“I know you declined yesterday, but I have to ask again, will you use me as a test subject?” she asked. Trixie and I both remained uncomfortably still. I pulled the apple out of my mouth and took a deep breath.
“Scootaloo, you know I can’t. It’s too dangerous.” I said. Her ears drooped and she seemed extremely disappointed and cross with me. “Even if I wanted to, there’s nothing I could use you for. It’s not just because Dash said no, but you’re simply too young and not a viable subject.” I added. Scoots seemed even more hurt. With the damage dealt, I felt remaining would just worsen the situation, so I nodded to Trixie and left with the apple and the sandwich.
Dash was still engrossed in her book when I entered the lab. I’d have left her to it with her sandwich, but I felt I needed to inform her of Scootaloo’s attempt to ask me behind her back.
“She did what?!” Dash yelled, slamming the book closed in a fit of anger. I could tell she was going to go and give the filly a good talking to, like an older sister would, but I stopped her.
“Dash, it’s alright, I turned her down again. She won’t ask a third time. Besides, I have a plan to put her off the idea.” I caught her attention with that last part. I gave her a devilish grin and she knew instantly that this was going to be a cruel thing to do.
The stage was set. I’d casted an illusion spell around the room to make it look completely and utterly destroyed. Even the lights from the lanterns were flickering uncontrollably, on the verge of giving out entirely, but I forced them to remain alight through the stress. I’d told Trixie to send Scootaloo to tell us when Dinner was ready, and right on cue, the orange filly walked in. She closed the door behind her before noticing the carnage.
“What in the name of Celestia happened here?” she called out. Before she could get too scared, I locked the door so she couldn’t escape. Dash smiled at me as she saw Scootaloo try to open the door. Then it came. That menacing moan from across the laboratory. I nodded to Dash who crept silently to her appointed position.
“Who’s there?” Scoots called out to the owner of the moan. On cue, Dash came limping from around the corner of a table, acting as if one of her wings were broken. Blood from a squirrel covered her body as she dragged one of her hind legs along.
“Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo cried, rushing to meet the Pegasus half way. Dash pretended to collapse just in front of the filly.
“Scoots… you have to run. We did something terrible… and it’s coming for me next.” she said, feigning difficulty to breathe. Dash was a good actor. I smiled and made my way to the location I’d chosen.
“Dash, what happened, Who did this to you?” Scootaloo asked. I smiled as Dash relayed the line we’d rehearsed.
“We… found another victim… of the killer. We tried to reanimate it… so it could give us… their identity. But something went… horribly wrong. The dead body mutated… and attacked us.” It was then that I did my part. I screamed in feigned agony, aided by a scalpel to the to the shoulder. I sliced downward, cutting my foreleg open. I fell past the table into the sight of the two, my eyes wide open in fear.
“Twilight!” Dash called out. Using my stealth magic, I pretended to be dragged back out of view, my blood slicking the floor.
“Oh, Celestia, it killed her!” Dash cried the obvious. I smiled as I healed myself and went to my next location. There, a body lay, ready for corrupting.
“Scoots, you have to get out of here. It’s coming for me next. It’s a monster, something…something foul.” Dash was selling it. With powerful magic, I turned the corpse into a puppet. It was then that I began to mutate it. Its legs burst out and turned into fleshy coloured bony legs with blades for hooves. Its head rotated until it was upside down and its face split in two. Tentacles began to lash out at the air as the fur and tail fell off the creature. A new tail was grown, ending in a long wide blade.
I smiled at my work as the transformation made such sickening sounds, the breathing of both ponies stopped. I had difficulty containing my glee as I threw myself across the room, covered in blood, to the other side, out of sight. I called for another moan from the creature, and it did. After it moaned, it gave out a terrifying roar. Scootaloo screamed. We knew she was scared but that wasn’t enough, not yet. I ordered the creature to remain silent and make its way to the table Dash had positioned herself near. The creature did as it was told and waited for instructions.
“Scoots, go. Grab Trixie and get out of here, warn the princesses if you have to, just live and don’t forget that I l–.” That was the signal. I ordered the monster to cut her off on the word ‘love’. The creature slammed into rainbow Dash and pushed her out of sight from Scootaloo. The filly screamed as the supposed dying cries of her idol filled her ears. Scootaloo bolted for the door, but was unable to open it. She tried scratching her hooves at the wall as a last ditch effort. The monster approached Scootaloo from around the table and pinned her against the door. Scootaloo began to cry as she knew her life was coming to an end. The mutated corpse gave one last cry before disintegrating into ash at the filly’s hooves.
“Hold on.” I called from the far end of the room. There was a banging sound coming from my magic and the illusion in the environment lifted like a veil. The tables and items on them were undamaged, but blood remained on the ground. Dash and I emerged from our last known locations, smiling at the distraught filly.
“T-t-twilight? Rainbow Dash? W-wh-what just h-happened?” Scootaloo asked as she shook like my vibrator.
“A demonstration of what can happen if you become a test subject, Scoots.” Dash replied, pulling the filly into her personal space and hugging her.
“What?” Scootaloo asked. Her voice showed confusion.
“What we do here, Scootaloo, is highly dangerous. If we’re not careful, it could bring about something that cannot be killed and is designed to kill ponies and turn them into one of the monsters you just saw. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to end up like that thing.” I said, tilting my head to the pile of ash. Scootaloo shook her head. “So in order for you to have a chance at survival, you’re to have nothing to do with Necromancy, at least until you’re old enough and responsibility is second nature to you.” I said. Scootaloo shook her head, clutching her idol’s leg.
“I don’t ever want to see this kind of stuff again.” she said, hiding her shame filled face from my sight. I looked to Dash who smiled at the filly with satisfaction.
“Good. And you never will, kid. We’ll do all we can to prevent Necromancy affecting your life. This is what this performance was all about, to put you off it.” Dash said. She almost undid what we just worked to achieve, but I managed to fix it.
“Of course this sort of thing could potentially happen. Come on, let’s go and eat. That apple I had didn’t hit the sides.” I said, brushing my hoof along Scootaloo’s mane to assure her everything was fine now.
The past weeks have shown me that the killer did not take kindly to being put on the low priority end of the ‘Most Wanted’ list. His killing sprees have gone up since then and despite this, It’s made the Princesses’ desires to find me all the greater. I can only deduce they believe I would use these killings as fuel for my research. While I have considered it, I would prefer to resurrect ponies that have at least had the chance to receive a decent burial.
Regrettably, these advancements have brought me to a decision that I believe will change Equestria for the worse. My goals have changed since the beginning of this venture, and I find myself disliking the angle my path is taking.
Originally, I wanted to take revenge on Celestia for acting as a god, then as I realised that she never truly claimed to be as such, my research would progress further for the sake of capturing the killer. Now, with Equestria against me, I find that my new goal is to protect those who still love me, by any means necessary, even if it means the destruction of Equestria.
Aiding me in this new quest is Trixie, who’s Necromantic powers have quickly caught up to me thanks to my guidance and sharing of power. Regretably, sexual relations with my mares has become infrequent, which is a great inconvenience since I learned that such activities provide great amounts of energy, which my body has become accustomed to. Now, what I once considered the peak of my magical skills is now my reserve power. Unfortunately, the dead don’t produce as much energy as the living, and since the only remaining life among us is Scootaloo, I am torn. Given Dash’s secret past, it may not be so unthinkable to take advantage of Scootaloo’s… life force. Then again, sex with a foal, is not only taboo, but in my case it would relate to Necromancy, and that is something Dash and I have recently promised not to involve her in. Perhaps it’s time to call upon Fire Reign, or maybe Chrysalis. I wouldn’t mind trying that horn of hers out. Surely, such acts would be mutually beneficial.
Regardless, Trixie has gone into Gryphon territory to seek their aid, either by their own will, or through mental force. If our plan is to go smoothly, we will need an army.
Matters regarding the Killer have arisen. Since my secret has come into the light thanks to the Princesses, the killer seems to have taken an interest in me. He’s given a formal invitation to me to meet him in the Everfree, in the clearing just South of where I currently reside. I’ve taken measures to have Scootaloo moved to the secondary base with the Changelings in case the Royal guard decide to show up and follow us to wherever it is we both hide.
In relation to the killer, I’ve decided to kill him; not because he is a threat to Equestria, no I am also a threat now. I’ve decided to kill him simply because he made my friends cry.
I closed the book and teleported it to the Changeling hideout, where I oversaw one Changeling stumble upon it and systematically take it to the lab in the area carved out just for me and my kin. Chrysalis took the chance to speak with me as I infiltrated the hive mind.
“Be careful, Twilight. This meeting tonight may turn out to be a trap, if not from the Royal Guard, then from the Killer.” she stated. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind of distractions as I thought only about the possibilities of tonight’s outcome.
“Worse comes to shove, they strike me down and I emerge more powerful than ever as a Lich.” I replied aloud, knowing she heard me either way.
“But if you die, wouldn’t the others die as well?” she asked.
“No. Trixie is living off of the ‘Amulet of Sion’. Rainbow Dash is living off of Scootaloo, only temporarily, for the night. I’ve prepared for every scenario, there is no gap in my plan.” I replied. Dropping the conversation there, I severed the connection and made my way to the entrance of the castle. The sun was setting and the time of Luna was dawning upon us. As the orange light shone through the trees, touching my surface, I sighed, enjoying the moment.
I began to sing, feeling that the song best described the scene before me as well as myself.
“♪Starry starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colours changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left inside
On that starry starry night
You took your life as lovers often do
But I could have told you,
Vincent,
This world was never ment for one as beautiful as you
Starry starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
A silver thorn
A bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen
They're not listening still
Perhaps they never wi~ll!♪”
As my song concluded, the moon began to show through the darkening night and I knew it was time to depart. All the important notes were in the Changeling’s hive while the small scribblings as well as the texts from Luna (which proved to be useless as I’d advanced beyond them already) remained in the now exposed castle. Fluttershy was informed of the situation and was likely delivering food to the Changelings as I walked to my certain doom, or so they would think.
As I reached the clearing where the designated meeting place was held, I spotted a pony already standing there across from me, near the centre. I approached them, not bothering to hide my features. As I came closer to the pony, I could tell that it was a Mare with the same colour pelt as myself, but a Lime green mane instead. Her eyes were also green, but more severe, like long grass. She reminded me of Spike were he a Pony and a Mare at that.
“Pleasure to finally meet you, Twilight Sparkle. I’m Midnight Breeze, I’m such a fan.” she said with the same chipper voice as Pinkie Pie. Her cutie mark resembled a crescent moon with a shooting star in the inner crescent. From this, I could tell she had a knack for astronomy, but what link was there between that and killing?
“Interesting message you left for me, written on the Library in a pony’s blood.” I complimented. It was as she began to speak that I realised how she’d managed to kill so many without even being seen let along caught.
“Oh you know. Use what you have on hoof. And I’ve got blood on my hoof, enough for a thousand of those messages. But what really interested me was what happened some months ago. One of my victims living as if nothing had happened. Your friend, Rainbow Dash, slain by my hoof, or wing in this instant,” she stretched her wings out to reveal sharp blades along the base. That was how she killed Dash in mid-flight; grazing her wing along the victim’s neck. “I couldn’t quite fathom how she survived the cut, let alone the fall. Then the public announcement four months ago. Twilight Sparkle was a Necromancer, able to bring the dead back to life under her control. Well I have to say, I got off on that news. I wanted nothing more than to meet you, but how to get you attention? Surely killing your dragon assistant would only upset you, and I didn’t want to do that… yet.”
Her voice and first impression made me think of Pinkie Pie. Somepony like her with my intelligence was a deadly mixture, possibly the ultimate killer.
“Why kill so many ponies, you seem so intelligent, you’re an astronomer, for Celestia’s sake.” I asked. Midnight was more perceptive than I thought.
“Interesting, you discovered my talent just by observing my Cutie Mark. What’s even more interesting is that although Celestia is out to get you, you still say such things as ‘Celesita’s sake’. You’re an enigma, Twilight, I’ll give you that.” she stepped up to me, but I help my ground. She brought her face up to mind and smiled.
“To answer your question, why kill so many ponies? Well, why not? You may think you found a pattern, that aside from your friend, I’ve only been killing Unicorns, but there’s another pattern, they’ve all been Mares too.” she pointed out. I hadn’t caught that pattern. The victims were indeed all mares.
“There was another one you killed in Ponyville, Rarity; White with a purple mane and tail. She was my friend too.” I said. Midnight seemed surprised to hear that.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Had I known, I might have gone for that Toothpaste coloured pony instead, Lyra I think her name is. I’ve no intention of getting on your bad side, as I said before, yet.” she replied.
“What made you start killing, if I might ask?” I enquired. Midnight seemed to have been waiting for that question.
“I suppose you could say, my sister got me into the swing of things. Well, I call her my sister, but she’s more of a darker side, really. Tel me, how’s your knowledge on multiple personalities?” she asked. So that was it. Midnight herself wasn’t the killer, but simply the host for a murderous mind that was manipulating her. She would have made for a great test subject.
“Ooh, I can see that look in your eyes Twilight. You want to study me, right? Find out what makes my sister tick, why she wants to kill Unicorn mares. I’ve no problem telling you, but you have to keep it a secret.” she said.
“I’ll take it to my grave.” I proposed, irritated at having been so easily read. Midnight seemed satisfied with that answer.
“I had a brother, not like my sister, but an actual brother, external to me. Like you and Shining Armour, only we were more… how should I say, intimate. He was my BBBCFF. Big-Brother-Best-Colt-Friend Forever. I believe you have a variant of such a term. Only without the ‘Colt’ part?” it was more of a statement than a question.
“How did you know about that?” I demanded. Midnight Breeze pulled out my old diary which I had inadvertently left in the Ponyville Library.
“There’s some juicy stuff in here, too. You thought Celestia was sexy when you were just thirteen, you offered an escape from her constant marriage proposals by suggesting she marry you instead. You showed such love and devotion to your Princess. What happened to make you turn on her like this?” Midnight asked, motioning to my appearance. It seemed as though nothing would be hidden from either of us.
“You never finished answering my previous question. You were talking about your brother? Answer that, and I’ll tell you my story.” I offered. Midnight Giggled with glee, regaling me with the story of her intimate relationship with her brother and herself. Apparently, another mare found him wanting and stole him away from Midnight. Days later, her brother was murdered, and no evidence other than an obvious motive could connect the other mare to the crime, So Midnight found her sister and together, they killed the mare, and the killing began.
“Interesting.” I said. I had this pony figured out now. It was my turn to respond to her previous question. I could hear rustling in the leaves and I knew the Royal Guard were watching and listening. I could also feel the presence of the two Princesses as they listened in. Midnight Breeze could also tell they were there.
“So, why turn away from somepony you idolised to the point of unhealthy love?” her rendition of the question made me raise my brow.
“You wanna be the pot, or the kettle?” I asked in return. She just giggled and motioned for me to ignore the phrasing of the question and just answer it. “It was on my Brother’s wedding. Chrysalis, the queen of the changelings had tricked everypony but me. That should have been the first sign. The second sign was when Chrysalis defeated Celestia in magical combat. That’s when I found out the hard way.” I said.
“Found what out?” Midnight asked, as engrossed in the tale as Pinkie would have been.
“Equestria reveres the Princesses as gods. No god could lose to a mere Changeling, no matter their status within the hive. While Celestia and Luna have never claimed to be gods, they’ve done nothing to erase the concept from the minds of their subjects, let alone me. I thought that I at least would have been told the truth. They’re immortal, not invincible. My life was a lie fabricated on ignorance and naivety. I had no intention of wasting my life like that again. So I decided to learn Necromancy in order to take revenge on Celestia. Luna I had no quarrel with, unless she got in my way. Now, I learn Necromancy just for Survival’s sake.” I said. Midnight Breeze bounced up and down on the spot, clearly giddy about the drama of the story.
“That was amazing!” she said with a goofy look on her face. It was then that I heard a dripping sound coming from behind her. So she truly did get off on me. I could feel the tension in the air as the guards prepared to attack. I made a quick decision not to kill Midnight Breeze just yet.
“Midnight, I have a proposition.” I said. The mare was all ears as I could tell she held me in high regard. “I want you to stop killing, at least for now. I figure we could work out a system where you can track down the murderers and rapists, and bring them to me. Once you’ve had your fun with them, I could use them in my research. What do you say?” I asked. Midnight seemed to gasp and smile at the same time, again like Pinkie. Without warning, the mare threw herself onto me and kissed me. It saddened me to realise she was better at it than Trixie and Dash put together. Perhaps I could use her further. But I had to check something first.
“I’d love that, Twilight. I’d like nothing more than to work with you… We’d like nothing more than to work with you.” she said.
“And it doesn’t bother you that I am among the race and gender that you’ve been killing thus far?” I asked. Midnight threw her hoof lazily.
“Oh forget that. There’s always an exception to the rule, Twilight and you are that exception in our eyes.” she replied. And Checkmate. I had her right where I wanted her. I smiled and pulled her head down into a big kiss as I rolled over and ended up on top of her. As we began to make out, I entered her mind and spoke to her.
“We’re staying at the Changeling Hive South West of here, near the Gryphon Border.” I thought to her. I could tell she got the message as she wrapped her hooves around me and pulled me closer.
It was at that extremely inconvenient moment that the Princesses gave the order to attack. The two of us groaned in annoyance as I got off of my new energy source and partner.
“Jealous much, girls?” I muttered to the Princesses as we readied ourselves for a fight. The princesses were among the last to emerge from their hiding places as the guards surrounded us.
“Care to show me the extent of your skills, Midnight?” I asked. Midnight went giddy and began shaking with excitement.
“Who should I spare?” she asked. I already knew who to spare. The Princesses. They were going to see this.”
“None but the Princesses.” I replied. Midnight squeed with joy and shot towards the circle of guards. One by one, like a lightning bolt, Midnight cut the guards down, and with my magic, I brought them back, under my control. I wasn’t prepared to reveal my ability to control the living to my former idols just yet. Within seconds, Luna’s Night Guard were under my total control as they circled around the two alicorns instead.
“You want the most wanted, you got the most wanted.” I said, smirking as in a flash of light, Myself, Midnight Breeze and the Night guard disappeared, teleported to the old castle where I let the guards rest in peace.
“This is going to be more fun than I thought.” I said.
Midnight’s integration into the collective went smoothly enough, especially since I had no choice but to lie to everypony. I told Rainbow Dash that Midnight was a Royal Guard who believed the killer was a greater threat than us and wished to join us in stopping them. Dash didn’t buy it at first as she addressed the non-standard issue weapon on Midnight’s wings. She saved herself by stating that she was “Special Forces”. Dash seemed to believe that; sadly it didn’t last long. Midnight and I never factored in the Public announcement the Guard would make about our sudden cooperation. Dash confronted me in private, and she was less than pleased about the whole thing.
I told her my plan regarding Midnight and how I would fit her into the end game. She seemed to like this plan. I thought she might. I told her to inform Trixie when she returned from the meeting with the Gryphons, and to leave Scootaloo out of this whole ordeal.
My time has been better spent with Midnight, gaining her trust and learning her methods should the worst come to pass. I’ve learned that sometimes, when in great distress, her ‘sister’ would take control and perform more devastating acts than I thought possible. Such a test was given when I placed her in front of a Hydra. I’d never seen a head cut off before it had the chance to fully grow back before I met her. Midnight Breeze is truly something, and it pains me to know what I must do when the time comes. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning.
With tension rising between myself and the Princesses, who have refused to listen to reason simply because my current… centre is Necromancy, I have come to the conclusion that I too must delve deeper into darkness if I am to survive and protect my friends.
On that note, something terrible has happened; in a desperate attempt to bring me out of hiding, Celestia and Luna both have arrested Spike and placed him in jail as a bargaining chip. This alone has made me bed ridden for the past few days. The girls have done what they could to try and comfort me, including Midnight Breeze who has become more like a friend than I thought. She’s even offered to try and rescue him for me, but I declined on the basis that it could be a trap, and for the time being, I need Midnight.
It is with great sadness, that I must persevere and continue my goal. I know Celestia enough to know that she will not harm Spike in an effort to bring me out of hiding. But this action she has taken has reaffirmed my original goal. I WILL kill Celestia for this…
I placed the log down on my bedside table, accidentally knocking the glass over the edge. With quick reflexes, I stopped the glass and the water both from falling any further and rested it beside the book. It was then that I came up with something terrible, but justified. I threw my bed sheets off and ran out into the lobby (or what passed for a lobby in a Changeling cave). As I expected, Rainbow Dash, Trixie and Midnight Breeze were sitting, conversing with Chrysalis on mundane matters, a rarity these days. Chrysalis was the first to spot me and brought the others’ attention to me as she said my name.
“Grab some dresses, girls. We’re going to a funeral.” I said. The four of them looked confused as they muttered to each other. Scootaloo came in carrying drinks on a well-balanced tray on her back.
“Something going on?” she asked. I smiled and turned to her.
“Hey Scoots, wanna see if you can get your cutie mark in Funeral Crashing?” I asked. Scootaloo beamed with excitement at the suggestion.
“That sounds Awesome! Is Rainbow Dash doing it too?” she asked. I smiled and turned to the group behind me.
“We’re all doing it, Chrysalis too.” I said. The changeling queen was stunned to say the least.
“I assume I’ll be… disguised as somepony while this is going on?” she enquired. I nodded simply and began to prepare myself.
“Who’s funeral are we going to?” Midnight asked. I stopped and turned back to them, a wide grin on my face.
“Blueblood’s.”
The ponies all dressed in black as the coffin containing the deceased prince was carried through the City Square toward the graveyard on the other side. Among the crowd, we’d managed to disguise ourselves well enough to not get noticed. Everypony began to follow behind the coffin like a pack of Zombies following a fresh t-bone steak. I’d seen it before. I remained quiet underneath my hooded dress and scarf as ponies around me began to spread rumours about his death.
“How did he go?”
“Peacefully in his sleep, I think.”
“Supposedly, he died from an infection after his tongue was ripped out. Poor Stallion, nopony deserves to suffer like that.”
“I disagree. Though a prince, Blueblood was cruel and selfish. I’m only sorry he didn’t live longer to experience Ms. Sparkle’s judgement.”
“So, you’re one of those Twilight fanatics, are you?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, I just agree with what she did relating to the Prince, other than that… I can’t say until I know her goals.” The conversations took a rather interesting turn in my favour.
“I hear there’s a cult that’s started after her. They go by the ‘Order of Necrosis’.” The mare next to me shivered at the name. I for one found it intriguing.
“Order of Necrosis?” I enquired, hiding my eyes’ true colours under magic.
“Yeah, it’s supposed to be a real scary cult. It’s like a horror equivalent of the Knights of the Horseshoe Table. Last I heard, there were at least fifty known members.” My eyes widened at the prospect.
“Any idea if Twilight’s friends are members?” I asked.
“I don’t think so, if they are, they’re not public about it. And the founder of the Cult is unknown. Some believe it’s the killer who organised that meeting in the Everfree Forest last month.”
“Are you kidding? I bet it’s that party pony, Pinkie Pie. Nopony can be that happy without being crazy/insane at the same time.”
“Oh, I hope it’s Big Macintosh. That way the cult would be an expression of love for Twilight.” one of the mares said.
“Who’d have thought talk of a Necromancer cult could lead to a dramatic love confession?” I asked. The ponies agreed as they said “Here, here”.
“Hey, you think it’s Fluttershy? I’ve hear rumours of her sneaking off into the Everfree Forest at night. I was thinking of collecting on that reward for information and telling the Royal Guard.” one of them said. I reminded myself to have a word with Fluttershy about stealth when she visited next.
“I wouldn’t recommend it.” I said.
“Why not?” the stallion asked.
“Well what if one of those cultists overheard you? You might return home after the funeral to find yourself arranging some for your own relatives.” I said. The stallion got the threat and seemed to mutter an agreement with me.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry if you ask me.” I added.
“Hey, speaking of; I heard that Twilight took a filly with her when she disappeared. Anypony know why that was?” a mare asked.
“Well Twilight left with two other ponies, remember? Rainbow Dash and that other one, Hex or something. I was in Ponyville for a holiday and I learned that the filly that left with them idolised Miss Rainbow Dash. Clearly, Twilight took her along so the filly could stay with her idol. I heard she was an orphan.” another, posh mare replied.
“No, Scootaloo wasn’t an orphan. She just didn’t like her parents, they were what you might call… scum?” I interjected.
“So that was her name, was it? Scootaloo? Sounds rather scatter-brained if you ask me.” the posh mare said. I fought the urge to defend Scootaloo’s honour and chose silence instead.
“Obviously, you’re not in the Cult of Necrosis.” another pony spoke up. I smiled under my scarf at the comment.
“Heavens no. I’m far too upper class to be associated with such a thing.”
“With your head up in the clouds.” I muttered to the mare next to me who giggled afterward.
“What was that?” the posh mare demanded, bringing her face to mine. I grinned under the scarf at her and replied.
“I said, you must have been up there with Blueblood, almost.” The mare next to me stifled a burst of laughter as the posh mare just brushed the comment off.
“Yes, well I’ll be going to the Crystal Empire after all of this is over.” she said as if anypony cared.
“Make sure your head fits through the gate first.” I whispered to the giggling mare beside me. She almost snorted bubbles and I knew I’d made a new friend. I could use her to my advantage. She seemed to be the one to ask about the Cult. When everything had died down, I made sure I was next to her when the coffin was entering the graveyard.
“So, do you know where one could find this cult everypony’s been talking about?” I asked. The mare seemed uncomfortable with the question.
“W-what makes you think I know?” she asked, shakily. I smiled at her, leaning closer.
“Because I can tell from your body language, you’re anxious to help the cause and convince somepony to join. That way you can say you did something for Twilight. It’s written all over you that you’re trying to get somepony interested, and you have my attention. So what do you say? Help a potential sister out?” The mare’s eyes turned to dots as she struggled to hold it in. This was easier than I thought.
“Tell you what, you help me out, and I’ll make sure Twilight meets you if I get the chance to meet her myself.” The mare sounded like she was trying to quell an orgasm as she exhaled in intermittent bursts.
“I imagine in a time of need, Twilight would be very grateful for your contribution. It can’t be easy thinking you’re the most wanted and most feared pony in all of Equestria. She may even reward you for recruiting others to her cause, in any way you see fit.” I finished that sentence by biting my teeth together a couple of times. The mare flinched and I knew that was it, the information I wanted was mine. She turned to look at me and brought her lips to my ears.
“M-m-meet me… h-h-here t-tonight. I’ll take you t-t-to the Cult’s hideout.” she whispered. Done! I thought. I’d gotten more out of this trek than I thought.
“Thank you.” I whispered back, winking at her. She smiled and focused her attention back on the funeral.
“What’s your name?” I whispered to her as the Princesses began to say their goodbyes. Among them was my brother. I never thought I’d see him so soon, let alone before the end game.
“M-m-Morse c-c-Code.” she stuttered. Her speech seemed to give a sense of Irony to her name. With her name learned, I slinked away from the area and met up with the others who wore similar clothing to my own, with certain variations. Trixie was disguised as Hex, since she wasn’t easily recognisable among Canterlot’s populace. Chrysalis had changed her form into a greyish lavender form of myself with Ocean blue eyes and regrettably, a better mane style. Dash had been given a disguise of her own choosing, and she chose Daring Do. Still, she was unrecognisable under the black dress. Scootaloo had chosen a turtleneck jumper. She didn’t seem ashamed of her blank flank, which I found to be a great improvement of character. Midnight Breeze had altered her mane style, combing it back and tying it into a bun. She wore glasses over her eyes as well.
“It’s almost time. And I’ve got some good news for you all when we get home.” I muttered so only they could hear.
As Shining Armour took the stage to say goodbye to Blueblood, I chose that time to interfere. I didn’t want to hear my brother’s sympathetic words for such a low life.
“Places, everypony.” I said. The girls separated and took their places around the circumference of the crowd. I removed my hood and Dress, leaving my scarf on. I then used my magic to teleport onto the stage beside my brother. The reaction was as expected. Gasps of shock and horror filled the graveyard. I drank their fear like a Changeling drank love.
“Good afternoon, everypony. Nice day for a Funeral... not! It’s pretty chilly, actually. You’d think such an occasion would warrant nicer weather. Also, where’s the celebration cake?” I teased. Luna went to charge me, but I cleared my throat and pointed over to the crowd. Luna stopped and looked at a pony that had just begun screaming. One of the dead had arisen from their grave and wrapped their hooves around a filly.
“Lash out and I’ll have Mr… Chuckles, funny, snap her neck.” I threatened. Luna stood down, an enraged look on her face.
“Don’t give me that. You and your sister had this coming when you chose to use Spike against me. I’m simply returning the favour.” There was uneasy silence among the crowd as I scanned it for Morse Code. I found her with bright eyes looking hopefully at me. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Why the sad faces, anyway, shouldn’t we be celebrating? Blueblood is alive, after all.” I chuckled afterward, reanimating the fallen prince. A few seconds later, he began to bang on the coffin and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as his cries sounded like the filly Mr Chuckles had in his grip.
“Oh, Celestia! Get him out of there!” Luna commanded. Shining Armour went to open the hatch for the Prince. I allowed it, but felt slightly betrayed by the action. As Blueblood leaped out of the coffin, he scurried over to Celestia and clutched her leg. He looked around, trying to get his mind around the situation when his eyes landed on me. He screamed as if he’d seen me dressed in a pink bodysuit making strange noises at him. He sounded like a shocked goose. I cracked up, losing my footing in the process.
“You know, I never realised how childish Blueblood is, or how dumb you all are. You’ve just opened the lid of a coffin that contained a zombie inside. You’re like those farming families who think the bonds of family are stronger than rotting relatives. Well guess what? They’re not!” My eyes flashed over to Blueblood and he changed like a hydra’s personality. I cracked my neck just as Blueblood lunged at his aunt and bit into hers. Celestia started and threw him off, seemingly as unaffected by the bite as she was by Blueblood’s sudden mindlessness.
“Nice job, Blueblood. Don’t worry about hurting her though; she’s had practice being bitten on the neck.” I said, recalling our little session a while back. Celestia growled at me and I just chuckled. I cracked my neck the other way.
“You know… If I hadn’t been labelled a threat to Equestria, things might have gone differently, and you might not have had a dead nephew to rekill and bury. But you did, so they haven’t and you do. This fillies and gentlecolts, is a funeral crashing Necromancer style.” I said. I then stood on my hind hooves and began pumping my forehooves in circular motions as I side stepped off the stage.
I brought my magic into view and each of my friends were teleported back home with a large explosion following where they were taking out a small number of ponies. I clapped my hooves and Blueblood was fully converted into a zombie. As I disappeared, I heard Shining Armour shouting out to his guards to protect the Princess. I winked at Luna and I found myself back in the Changelings’ caves.
“That.Was.Awesome!!!” Scootaloo shouted as she enjoyed the little show I put on for them. I smiled and patted Scootaloo’s head as she zoomed excitedly past me.
“I admit, that was totally cool.” Dash added. Chrysalis showed a newfound respect for me in her eyes and Trixie just smiled.
“That’s not the best part.” I said, calling their attention back to me. “Not only did I ruin the funeral, but I put Celestia and Luna in a position where they have to mutilate and kill Blueblood themselves, or at least give the order. They’ll be hurting from that for a while.” I said, smiling.
“But Twilight, that’ll just make their hatred for you even stronger.” Trixie said. I nodded in understanding.
“I’ve severed any emotional attachment I ever had to them. Anyway, good news, we have fans.” I said, quickly changing the topic.
“Huh?” they all asked.
“The Cult of Necrosis! An organisation based on the path we’re following. We are now Idols to some of Equestria’s inhabitants, and I met somepony who is going to lead me to their base of operations, tonight.” The girls all began to cheer with excitement.
“How did you get this pony to admit to being a member?” Scootaloo asked.
“Let’s just say… she’s into me. She idolises me the same way you do for Rainbow Dash or the way Dash idolises Spitfire.” I said.
“So what’s the plan?” Chrysalis asked. I smiled at them all as I answered.
I walked beneath the moonlight, having returned to the graveyard as instructed by Morse Code. As expected, the mare was waiting for me. I’d worn my disguise for the meeting; something about my recent exploits made me want to put on flashy presentations.
“There you are; I’ve spoken with the vice-president of the cult and she’s agreed to let you join. However, I never got your name, so he was a bit… suspicious to say the least.” Morse said. Her mane shone brightly under the moonlight.
“Understandable, but unnecessary; my name isn’t important right now. All you need to know is that my friends and I are devoted to Twilight’s cause.” I replied. Morse seemed a little hesitant at the answer I gave her, but agreed anyway. Without another word, she led me into the treeline beside the Foal Mountains. Along the way, she started up another conversation.
“You mentioned your friends back there; where are they?” she asked. I smiled under my scarf.
“They’re around, watching out for any guards along our path and taking down the potential threats. They’re like clockwork ninjas, real dependable.” I replied. It was difficult to tell if Morse found my reply reassuring, or even more suspicious. Either way, it didn’t matter as she took a right into the base of the nearest Mountain.
“We’re here.” she said. At first, I thought she might have been touched in the head. All I saw was a flat rock face, but as she stepped towards it, I saw a ripple effect trail out from her, stopping just a few feet in all directions. She’d walked through the wall. It was a concealed doorway.
“Clever.” I said aloud, mentally transmitting the information to the others. I stepped through casually, only to be greeted by a number of spears and swords. At first, I thought it might have been a trap, but their armour was different compared to the Night and Day guard. The colours and styles were designed after me.
“It’s alright she’s the new member. Others will be coming too.” Morse said. The guards lowered their weapons and allowed me past. I recognised them as some of the ones I’d brainwashed before I’d been found out. I hadn’t counted on some of them actually taking my side of their own free will. I was especially surprised to see Fire Reign among them.
“This way.” Morse said. I couldn’t help but notice how she’d taken on a completely different tone once she’d entered the cave.
The passage led to an open expanse lit by artificial light. It was an indoor archipelago, if such a thing existed. It brought to mind the popular novel 'Journey to the Centre of Equis'. Ponies ranging from thirty to fifty of all ages were gathered together, some of them chatting, others sleeping. It seemed more like a guild than a cult. However they presented themselves didn't matter to me, so long as they were true to their rumours.
Faces unfamiliar to me turned my way and looked judgingly at me as I followed Morse to a platform that had been set up for statements and assemblies. It appeared that a new recruit or recruits was considered assembly-worthy. I heard the commotion my friends had begun to make as they were surrounded by spears and swords on their way to the platform behind me. All of them wore disguises as were my orders.
On the platform, Morse instructed us to wait where we were. As soon as she left, the others gathered closer.
"I've got an eerie feeling about this. They're watching us like a pack of Timber Wolves." Dash stated. I had to agree with her statement. But I felt safe in the knowledge that no matter the truth behind this Cult, we would emerge victorious.
"Just play it cool. Don't let them think they've got you rattled." I told her. Dash sighed and cracked her neck to relax. Minutes later, a familiar face emerged from behind yet another hidden passage. Fluttershy walked forward, her mane styled differently. Unlike she used to, she no longer hid her face. She'd brushed her mane towards the back of her head, letting her ears prevent any hair from falling back to the front. I was glad to have had a modecum of self control, else I'd have had her on that platform for everypony to see.
"I'm the vice-president of the Cult of Necrosis. State your names and explain why you want to join our ranks." she ordered in a very uncharacteristic manner. I loved the new Fluttershy. I felt it safe to reveal myself knowing that Fluttershy was at the least, second in command. I turned to the others and nodded my head, reaching my hoof up to remove my disguise.
As the hood came off, silence overcame everypony. My eyes darkened to their normal state and my body radiated suppressed magic. Fluttershy sighed and smiled, obviously glad to see me.
"I managed to convince a civilian not to report your late night meetings with me to the Royal Guard. You should step up your game when sneaking off." I said. Fluttershy stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
"It's good to see you, Twilight." Fluttershy said as the others began to remove their own disguises. Suddenly, the onlookers burst into fandom and celebrated my appearance. I hadn't felt so loved and appreciated since my friends and I were all together and we'd received medals for defeating Nightmare Moon. As Fluttershy made her way to Rainbow Dash and the others, I approached Morse Code and smiled.
"I believe I said Twilight would show her gratitude in any way you desired. Tell me I'm wrong?" I teased. Morse was speechless. I watched her jaw work without voice and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I...I-I-I...I love you." she managed to blurt out. I gave her a confident look and pulled her closer.
"Show me just how much after this meeting's over. My friends and I have ways of making ponies express themselves." I said, whispering the last part in her ear before nibbling it. She let out a quiet moan and I watched as her hind legs quivered in anticipation. I had no trouble believing that she would have happily let me take her in front of the other cult members if it meant being ravaged by me. Such desires were indicative that I was due for a session. Who better than a mare who was new to my skills and more likely to produce more ecstasy for me feed on. I'd learned that Necromancy held a trait similar to Changelings. It was stronger when I fed off of the emotions of others. Of course as a Pony, there was only one way to do so, and that was through what Morse was undoubtedly hoping for.
I distanced myself from my biggest fan for the time being and turned to Fluttershy.
"So if you're number 2, who's in charge?" I asked. Fluttershy looked rather sad after I'd asked. Before the pegasus could reply, a familiar voice chilled the air. The tone with which the pony spoke was unnerving.
"Heya, Twilight. Long time, no see." Twilight looked to the wall to see a pink hoof emerge from the ripples, followed by another, then the head of Pinkie Pie. Unlike her usual self, her mane had gone straighter than a Royal Guard's posture and bags had begun to form under her eyes.
"Pinkie?" I asked. The pink mare before us lifted her head and grinned more evilly than I ever could have.
A quick recap of my latest exploits is well overdue. After having paid my dues to the Cult of Necrosis, I have successfully made it an extension of my Power. New members are joining every day ranging from ten to fifty. My public resurrection of my first and hopefully last victim (Blueblood) has aided some ponies in wishing to go against the Princesses as well. Their reasons matter little to me.
A brief overview of their opinion over me has brought me to the border of hypocrisy. I am beginning to be revered as a god, or perhaps a demon to the more level-headed of my followers. This will have to be rectified. Also, I've made steps to make sure that Fluttershy never learns about Midnight Breeze's connection to Rarity's death. Coincidentally, I believe that she blames me slightly for not bringing her back like I have Rainbow Dash. I miss Rarity, but her death has served a purpose in the sense that the Elements of Harmony cannot be used against me. Subsequently neither can they be used for our own personal gain not that I believe they would work, considering that we are for all intents and purposes, evil.
I no longer hold any claim to the good of Equestria, which makes me wonder why I have continued to amass such a formidable rebellion. I suspect that there are liars within my sizable band. Things are growing out of control. Fortunately, Trixie has returned and has provided me with some much needed relief. As a unicorn herself, she is able to feed off of my own ecstasy, considerably lessening the adding stress. Her return also brings good fortune. We have gained the trust of the dragons. They agree that Celestia's humble yet unmistakable air of superiority has run its course. Mentioning that she held a baby dragon prisoner was also a winning factor. Trixie always knew how to draw a crowd.
On a more positive note, Morse Code has two Primary functions. She teaches other ponies a unique form of communication in order to pass secret messages during the day. At night, her love for me is... forever understated. Without having to manipulate her mind, she has degraded herself to do unspeakable acts ranging from torture to masturbating in front of a crowd. She is truly devoted to me, of that there is no doubt. She makes the others seem like potential traitors...
"Twilight, that's enough. Come to bed already." Trixie whined.
"Yeah, we're getting tired and that light's keeping us up." Dash added. I smiled and turned to face them.
"Sorry guys. I'll be done in a minute." I replied, turning back to my journal.
...But I know in my heart that all my lovers, except perhaps Midnight can be trusted. It's obvious that gathering in one place could be detrimental to our success. I'll have to divide the ranks. All I have to do is choose who can be trusted to lead. Even now, my first instinct is to ask Celestia for guidance. The very idea upsets me. It's too late to turn back.
I gasped and shuddered as I felt my nether region suddenly scream for release. I felt the juices flow out of me. Looking under my desk, the glow of my eyes illuminated Pinkie, licking her face clean.
"Thanks, Pinkie. I needed that." I said, shoving the chair back so she could slip out. She kissed me and looked at my journal.
"How come you wrote some of the words in a strange language even I don't know?" she asked. I smiled at her and held her in a hug.
"So nosey little ponies like you don't go reading the important things in my life." I replied, kissing her cheek.
"My name's not in that funny language. Does that mean I'm not important to you, Twilight?" she asked, her ears drooping slightly. I offered her a kind smile (or as kind as I could given my features).
"Pinkie, you are as important to me as Everypony in this room. I love you as much as I love Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Trixie, Midnight, Morse and Scootaloo to an extent." I replied. I almost saw a little bit of the old Pinkie in her eyes, but it wasn't more than a flash. She was different, as were all of my friends. It was as if my power was radiating out to them, effecting their morals.
"You look tired, Twilight. Come to bed." the pink pony said, dragging me from my chair. I went without argument. Having torn my eyes away from my journal, they suddenly felt very heavy. I threw myself onto the bed between the girls, effectively bouncing them a little. Letting out a moan of relief at the softness of the bed, I felt my companions huddling up beside me. They threw their hooves around me and pulled themselves closer, effectively making themselves into a blanket for me. Their bodies felt warm and that warmth put me out like a light.
The following morning, I felt it; a distortion in my magic. It wasn't like before, it was different. Before, it was like a bruise on the surface. This time was like a break. I'd advanced too far too soon. My magic was beginning to deteriorate. Even my own body was feeling sluggish and unresponsive. Ecstacy wasn't enough anymore. I'd passed that threshold now.
With the girls not around to give me even that, I began to worry. What would I need in order to either contain or control the power I now possessed? The answer came to me. Of course I'd enter a situation in which Rarity could help. I thought to myself as I rushed to my desk. Pinkie had been kind enough to give me a roster of the ponies within the Cult. Surely one of them would be a dress-maker.
"Not a one. Fifty ponies on my side and not a single one of them is a seamstress or whatever the male equivalent is. Rarity's dead, Sweetie Belle can't make a dress to save her life, neither can the others for that matter." I screamed as I threw the roster across the room. This was not how I wanted things to end! Surely somepony out there can make a dress.
Then it hit me. 'Somepony out there'. I went to the closet and rummaged around through some of my old things. "Aha! Here it is!" I said aloud as I dug out from an old and dusty box my Mare Do Well costume. "It doesn't have what I need right now, but adding the necessary glyphs to the right places shouldn't be too much trouble. I suppose to spare Rarity's spirit the agony, I should place them in areas that would work on this thing. Also, the hat goes... maybe replace the mask with a hood." I thought aloud as I drew up the design on parchment from my desk.
That was the hard part out of the way. The costume was already made, and I should be able to make the necessary changes myself.
I wasted no time getting this project done. Sending one of my followers to gather the needle and thread, I removed the lenses in the mask, sealed up the holes and reshaped it so it worked as a hood. Keeping the lenses, I managed to outfit a pair of goggles to go separately with the suit. Maybe Rainbow Dash or Scootaloo would like them instead. I then laced the thread with a spell for containment restrictions and stitched glyphs into the sleeves of the suit, on the hood and on the chest. There were four in total, each with different levels of sealing.
Wearing this costume would keep me alive as the glyphs would seal away roughly sixty percent of my magic from here on. All I'd need to do is release the seals with my own magic. To be on the safe side, the seals could only be released with either my own magical signature or Trixie's. I'd have to teach her the spell. Come to think of it, she may need one soon. She's starting to show signs of corruption. I thought, putting the idea on the back-burner for now.
I donned the costume, the stretchy suit caressing my fur. It felt nice. Immediately, I felt my magic begin to drain into the glyphs. It felt uncomfortable, very much so. Fortunately, it rested around forty percent of full power, just as I'd predicted. Despite the drain on my magical reserves, my body felt much better. I felt like a great weight had been lifted off my back. I'd admit, I had trouble deciding whether or not to keep the cape. In the end, I chose to do so in order to hide my figure from the others. I had more than enough sexual partners and they were beginning to outlive their usefulness in that regard. Still, it was fun.
The leathery shoes fit nicely around my hooves. I very rarely wore such things, but I could grow to like it. Testing the hood, it rested comfortable over my head, casting a shadow over my eyes and half of my face. It really brought out the glow in my eyes. Looking in the mirror, I tried the goggles next. While they weren't really me, when the hood was up, the lenses would glow red as well, making me look really scary. I kind of liked it. Now there was an idea; night-vision goggles for Scootaloo. I'll have to look Gizmo up when I'm in Ponyville next. I thought, removing the goggles. I then noticed how long my mane was becoming. Have to get it cut.
I decided to name this new costume the 'Cloak of Necrosis'. After all, it ate away at my magic, and calling it a costume just sounded unprofessional. With the cloak still on, I headed for the door. As I opened it, I saw Rainbow Dash just about to knock.
"Oh, you're awake. Good, I wanted to ask you something." she said. Immediately, my instincts told me to be wary of her question.
"Alright... is something wrong?" I asked. Rainbow Dash hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck. She avoided eye contact with me. "Dash, spit it out. I want to ask you something too." I ordered. Dash finally made eye contact and swallowed in anxiety.
"Uh... not that it matters or anything, but... Scootaloo and I were wondering... mainly Scootaloo, mind you... could we..." she gave a pleading look that suggested she wanted to be put out of her misery. Saving time, I read her mind.
"You want us to go to Canterlot... to extend an invitation to the Wonderbolts to join us?" I asked in disbelief. Dash's eyes widened as she was read like a book. She blushed slightly, drawing back from me to get a bit of distance.
"Yeah... you know. The cult could do with a bit of entertainment, and it'd be more reassuring to them if they didn't have to worry about being caught when seeing their aerial shows." she lied.
"Cut the crap, Dash. You just wanna see the Wonderbolts and maybe hang out with them if they accept your proposal to join us." I caught her out again.
"Stop reading my mind! Can't you trust that I'm doing this for the good of the cause?" Dash asked.
"But you're not doing it for the cause, you're doing it for yourself. So obviously no, I can't trust you with this." I replied. Dash seemed saddened by my reply and hung her head.
"Please, Twilight? This conflict has divided my greatest desires, my friends, my loyalty. The Wonderbolts are my dream, and not knowing where they stand in all this is killing me. Flying's not as freeing as it used to be for me. At opposite ends of the conflict, I can't fulfil my dream of becoming a Wonderbolt. I just want to know where they stand." she begged.
"And what if they stand with Celestia?" I asked, giving her the critical stare.
"Then you're all I'll have to live for." she replied. Her answer told me everything. She'd literally given me an excuse to sabotage the meeting and force her to devote herself fully to me. At the same time, she trusted me enough to give me that power over her and not use it.
"What if they do stand with us? Won't your dreams be divided by your loyalty to me?" I asked. Dash shook her head.
"That's the beauty of it. If they join us, I can befriend them, and once all this is over and dealt with, life can go back to normal and I'll join. Until then, I'm still yours to command." she replied.
"So you're just searching for the future possibility of joining?" I asked. Dash nodded. I knew she wasn't lying to me. Still it would be risky. Should the Wonderbolts stay true to Celestia, we could be in grave danger going to meet them. Of course, they may lie and spy on us for her. Not knowing their overall speed, they could go out on patrol, give Celstia information and be back without arousing suspicion. The cons outweighed the pros... but this was for Rainbow Dash, and she held a special place in my heart alongside Fluttershy, Pinkie and Applejack.
"Before I answer your request, I must ask you; does somepony do your mane like that or do you cut it yourself?" I asked. Rainbow Dash's face contorted into a rainbow of confused expressions.
"Uh... I do it myself... why, do you want a mane like mine or something?" she teased.
"As a matter of fact, yes. Tell you what; in return for granting your request and going with you to see the Wonderbolts, you give me a mane cut that you feel would best suit me and make me look cool at the same time." I offered. Dash's face lit up and she laughed as she went in to hug me.
"Yes! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. You got a deal, Twi." she said, kissing me afterwards.
"Alright then. Come on, let's go get Scootaloo and Midnight." I said. Dash paused for a second.
"Why them?" she asked.
"Well, Scootaloo idolises you and and the Wonderbolts, so she'd probably like to meet them. As for Midnight, she's... well she's good at grounding other Pegasi. We don't want Celestia to be alerted to our presence, do we?" I asked. Dash nodded and walked alongside me to the ponies in question.
"Wait, is that your old Mare Do Well costume?" Dash asked.
It was strange. I knew something was missing, a part of the equation I hadn't considered. I looked things over and over but I couldn't find it. The upcoming trip to Canterlot would hold more reward if I could just find what that reward was. I knew I couldn't look to Celestia for guidance, but perhaps I could look to somepony who had bested her. I chose Chrysalis. While Discord may have been a viable option, his victory was unusual and hardly damaging to anypony's reputation.
I chose Chrysalis to talk to. She sat beside me as Rainbow Dash did my mane with enthusiasm one would not see coming from her doing such a dull job. Perhaps she'd fantasized about ruffling up my once straight and fine cut mane.
"What am I doing wrong, Chrysalis? Obviously there must be more I should do, but I just can't figure out what's missing." I said. I heard the Changeling's wings buzz slightly as she thought.
"To be honest, Twilight, I'm surprised you're having so much difficulty with this. The answer's right there." she replied.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Up until now, you've been doing one thing at a time, while unpredictable enough, it allows the ponies to prepare for any and all likely events that would counter your own method of battle." she said.
"I'm not following." I replied. Chrysalis hummed slightly as she thought of a way to explain.
"Think of it like Chess. You're moving one piece at a time, and so the ponies have learned to move their own pieces in order to counter, however, they're still only moving one piece at a time like you. What you need to do is move more than one piece at a time, move all the pieces at once if you feel like it." My eyes glowed like a light bulb lighting up as I realized where she was going with this.
"That's it! I just need to do more than one thing at a time. Thank you, Chrysalis. You were very helpful." I said. Having to keep still as Rainbow cut my mane, I couldn't read Chrysalis' expression, all I heard was the sound of light hoofsteps. "Okay, tell me. How did she react to my gratitude?" I asked Dash.
"Surprised would be my answer. It's difficult to tell Changeling facial expressions. For all I know, she could have been appalled." Dash replied. I chuckled, but my mind had already gone elsewhere. I needed to plan this through. I was going with Dash and Scootaloo to see the Wonderbolts, but I didn't really care that much for them, not unless Dash was one. The advice from Chrysalis still rang fresh in my mind. I didn't need to attend, just take her there. So what else could I do in Canterlot, short of battling the Princesses?
"I've got an idea, Dash." I said. A final snip of Dash's scissors told me we were ready to begin.
Canterlot was bustling with the latest news. Media concocted from imaginative minds. Some newspapers claimed I was a tobogganist. Others mentioned a romance between myself and Chrysalis. That would make for an interesting study in Changeling anatomy. I'll have to wait until later though. I thought, walking through the streets. I wore my 'cloak of Necrosis' with the hood up. Thank goodness I decided to keep the cape; it hid my tail well. With the streets full of active ponies it was easy to hide within the crowd. An added bonus for the plan I'd created. As soon as we were in Canterlot, Rainbow Dash led the way to the Wonderbolts. She knew their hang-out well. It was a bar called 'Liquid Gold Wings'.
"Now, you know the plan?" I asked. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo nodded. Midnight smiled and looked toward the bar.
"Yeah, discreetly ask the Wonderbolts their side of things, ask them to join us. If they refuse, cause a scene and make sure the public as well as the Royal guard chase me. If they do join, ask them to chase me." she replied. I smiled, flashing a glance to Midnight.
"Remember, we want to disable, not kill... yet. And only if it looks like they're getting close to catching Rainbow. Unlikely but better to be safe than sorry." I ordered. Midnight nodded with a devilish grin that caused me some degree of unease. "Good. I'm off to do the other thing. Scootaloo will get herself an autograph from them while she's here." I said.
"I wondered why the kid was here." Midnight said.
"Fortunately, Scootaloo isn't recognized as a part of the Cult of Necrosis. After all, who would suspect a foal of treason?" I asked, smiling under my hood before turning to leave.
"Good luck, Twilight." Scootaloo said.
"Thanks, you too." I called back, disappearing into the crowd.
Rainbow Dash's union with the Wonderbolts served as a distraction, hence the chasing. For Rainbow's sake, I hoped that they would at least consider neutrality. That way, Dash's life would not depend on my usefulness for her. I made my way to Canterlot Castle. Nearing the front gate, I took a right towards the mountain. There was a drain pipe that was disused some years ago to help with flooding. It led straight to the basement, which also happened to be the prison cells; my destination.
"A criminal breaking into prison. Discord's chaos runs still." I uttered as I hopped into the pipe. It was at an upward slope into the castle, but that was expected. It wouldn't make for a very effective drain pipe if it added water to the flood.
I waited at the edge, the iron bars hid me from the guard that would patrol every five minutes. It took about ten minutes before Rainbow Dash's time to shine came. As the guard was making his second patrol, another came telling him of the incident. Rainbow Dash had started a bar fight and flown away with the Wonderbolts in hot pursuit. Her chance to prove herself to them by out-flying them... hopefully.
With the prison devoid of all guards, I used my magic to bend the metal bars and step through. It would act as our escape route. I walked along the passageway, looking into each cell. There were ponies accused of being co-conspirators of Necrosis. One or two of them were, others were simply once-high-strung noble ponies. It was nice to see them brought down a notch.
"Twilight! Twilight Sparkle, please, help us. We'll join your cause of you help us." one of the prisoners cried, throwing herself at the bars. I approached her. Her hoof was sticking out, trying to reach me as though I were the key to her cell. I held her hoof in my own and kissed it.
"Of course I'll help you. But you don't have to join if you don't want to. That goes for all of you!" I called out. The prisoners began to cheer as they discovered freedom came in the form of me. "So why are there so many prisoners? Most of you look like you don't need to resort to crime." I asked.
"Princess Celestia has become paranoid. She's beginning to suspect treason in the most unlikely of places, even Luna became a victim in the form of an argument." she replied. This changed things. I knew Celestia as a calm and collected pony, but if she was going to act completely off from herself...
"What about Spike, a young dragon. I heard he was taken prisoner." I said.
"He was, but Princess Celestia called him up to meet her a few weeks ago. We haven't heard anything about him since then." the prisoner replied. Damn it! There goes my plan! I thought, using my magic to break the locks on the prison cells. The prisoners threw the doors open and cheered with glee before making a beeline for the drain pipe. As the last few stragglers were preparing to leave, I felt a presence that unhinged me. I turned around to look at the source of this feeling. Even the prisoners who hadn't managed to leave stopped and looked at her.
There stood Princess Luna, fully clad in her royal attire with a large blade resting on her back.
... There she stood, the fellow liar. No, the true liar. Unlike Celestia, Luna actually had tried to control the world while claiming to be a god. She should have been my target, but it was her sister that tricked me, tricked us. Celestia never made such a claim; I, along with Equestria itself just believed it to be so. Celestia was innocent. Luna was not.
"Should I even bother mentioning that you haven't aged a day?" I teased. Her strange blade never left my sight, resting just fine within my peripheral vision.
"No. While you're at it, don't bother speaking to me. You've got a lot to answer for." Luna replied.
"To my recollection, my only crime was killing a Prince nopony even wanted to have existed in the first place, and resurrecting him. Other than that, you can hardly say the truth about you and Celestia is a crime. The lie on the other hoof, well..." I pursed my lips and raised my brows, a facial sign that the lie was in fact the crime.
"Prince Blueblood was Royalty nonetheless. You had no right to kill him." she argued.
"Now there's something I've been looming over for a while now. You're allowed to give life, but you're not allowed to take it away? Sounds like a metaphorical one-sided relationship to me."
"Twilight, cease your research into necromancy and give yourself up. There may still be hope for you." she said. Bait, she's baiting me. I thought.
"Hope in what sense? By giving up, I could be saving my soul but not my life? Or do you believe things can go back to the way they were? I'm curious." I countered. There was a moment's hesitation. I knew then any answer she gave would be a lie.
"Twilight, Necromancy is dark magic, it'll destroy you." she avoided the question.
"No doubt." I replied, earning a look of confusion. "I'll be frank with you, Luna; I've got absolutely nothing left to lose but my own life." I said.
"What about your friends? Your cult that you've been amassing, wouldn't you lose them?" she asked.
"You'd think so, but no; Half of my friends are already dead, the cult means nothing to me, it's just a means to an end, and the killer responsible for all those Unicorn attacks, Midnight... well she's just a weapon to me. A single use crossbow that once fired, will become useless to me afterwards." I said. Luna's expression didn't change from the bored state it had returned to prior to my rant.
"It doesn't matter now though, Twilight. I'm here now, blocking your points of escape. Sure, you could try the sewer drains, but it's unlikely you'll be able to reach it before me. Teleportation magic has been sealed off within the castle to avoid any surprise attacks from you." she replied.
I smiled at her, seeing the unnerving shock in her eyes. Her poker face wasn't so sharp as her sister's. "You know, I always thought you'd be the one to catch me; after all. It takes somepony who knows darkness firsthoof to do so." I said. Why would I need a sword when I could cut with words? Only Celestia, myself and the girls would be able to hurt her with her past. After all, we were directly involved. And to hear her saviour berating her for it would no doubt be emotionally agonising. I saw it, clear as day. Glistening eyes, trying so hard to suppress a tear.
I decided to save her that shame just this once. "Anyway, it's not like that Teleportation blocker actually works against me." I said. With those words bringing her out of her saddened state, she looked at me with wonder just in time. As if on schedule, the castle began to shake.
"What was that?!" she demanded. Her answer came in the form of a distant roar from outside.
"I'll give you three guesses." I replied, grinning as the castle shook once more. A dragon had latched itself onto the side and had begun blowing flames in through the windows. The sounds of guards suffering under the heat of the flames could be heard, the sound not settling well with the dear Princess of the night in front of me. "You have a choice now, Princess. You can let your guards die, knowing you could have saved them, or you can do just that and let me go. Which will you choose? The question then becomes, which is the lesser evil? Save those loyal to you, or condemn somepony you owe your life to?"
I watched with a dominating high as Luna battled the options in her mind. She was not a god, she couldn't do two things at once. I grinned again as she turned to rescue her guards from the dragons. Overall, a rather quick decision on her part. Despite its appearance, the sewer was no doubt unusable to me now. The dragons could only distract the Princesses for so long. And they would expect me to leave through that sewer. I followed her up the stairs to the hallway at a casual pace. My horn glowed a black aura as I reached out to the mind of one of the dragons. "Come pick me up." I ordered. The dragon registered affirmation before I cut the connection.
"Why would I need teleportation when I have transportation?" I asked nopony in particular. The odd guard loyal to the throne passed by, noticing me but too frightened by the events to think straight. They knew they couldn't take me alone. A minute passed before Shining Armor appeared with a contingency of guards. Seems he succeeded where Luna failed; no surprise there when I thought about it.
"Twilight!" he addressed me. I stood by a row of glass windows, leaning against one of the pillars between them.
"That's it? No Twiley any more?" I asked with sarcastic hurt.
"My sister is dead, you're just some demon with her face. Once this is all over, I'll remember the Twilight I knew and loved." he replied. I huffed in boredom.
"So you're playing the 'dead to me' card? How old-worldly of you, and highly outdated." I said with as much boredom as I would give watching paint dry.
"Give up, Twilight! There's nowhere for you to run." Shining declared.
"What is is with you ponies and moving? Luna says teleport, you say run. I'm not trying to do either of those things. I'm catching a ride." I leaned away from the pilllar just in time before the dragon I'd contacted smashed through, shattering the glass and sending shards flying towards the guards along with bits of debris. In all the confusion I walked up to him and jumped onto his neck. The dragon reared his head back outside just as Shining realised what was happening.
"Come back!" he ordered.
"You never did tell me how often that works, Shining. Clearly the answer was 'never'." I replied. The dragon removed himself from the wall and took to the skies with me hanging onto his neck.
I really had nothing left to live for, nor did I have anything left to fight for. Now, I was just enacting my role as the villain in all this, or the hero, depending on the viewpoint. Really, everything had been taken away from me. Rainbow Dash and Trixie were both dead, as was Rarity. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were shadows of their former selves and Applejack was... well, I don't really know what she was. Spike was no doubt dead, and that was thanks in no small part to being affiliated with me. All I had now were shadows to love me and false hopes to give to those who supported me. Discord would be proud.
An idea came to me as I looked below the dragon. Discord. Perhaps he could undo what had been done? Then again, releasing him might create a third party for which neither Celestia nor myself would want to deal with. However, should the decision to release him occur, I'd like the option to fall upon me, not Celestia.
"Fly low and grab that statue in the centre of the garden!" I called out over the choppy winds. Nevertheless, the dragon heard me and obeyed. With magic, I remained stationary on the dragon as he twisted around and dove down, falling towards the statue of Discord. With a powerful beat of his wings, the ground rushed in all directions. With Discord's statue secured safely in the clutches of my transportation, we were off, headed for Equestria's Southern border. There, a mountain that was impossible to traverse hid well a cave spacious enough for our ever expanding army. Fortunately, Dragon territory rested just behind that mountain. Celestia would not openly attack the dragons at their own home.
I had Discord, my wild card. I had the Dragon Empire at hoof, I had my fallen comrades, as well as my expendable assassin. Chrysalis, the one who opened my eyes to the truth feared and respected me, as she should have. It was nothing to me. I just wanted this war over, I wanted everything calm and peaceful, and not even my death would make that happen at this point. The damage was done, there was a divide in the population of Equestria. I'd already won by creating this mess, but now I had to clean it up in the form of a war that would make the Lunar Rebellion seem like a game of Chess in comparison.
I would send thousands to their deaths, some would blame me, others would apologise for giving me more ponies to mourn. But their deaths wouldn't be the end. I'd bring them back to fight on, assuming there was anything left of them to resurrect. This was who I had become. I knew the risks, but not the severity of them. Still, it didn't matter. I was going to win. Now, my only remaining goal was to find something to fight for. Could it be for the girls that stuck with me through thick and thin, none of them receiving the entire truth about everything? Would it be Spike's memory, even though he probably hated me in the end or felt betrayed?
So many options, none of which took my fancy. It was like job seeking. So many options you could pick from, but not a single one was what you were truly searching for. Not even the thought of fighting just for myself sounded appetising. I'd become hollow. I doubt even imprisonment would phase me. I'd won, but I'd lost at the same time. More to the point, I was lost; trapped in a web of lies and half-truths that were suffocating me with the aid of Necromancy, a form of magic even Luna herself feared to tread into. I don't even recall Nightmare Moon having used such darkness, nor Sombra. Necromancers were soldiers of the Lunar Rebellion, but none were as gifted, as powerful as myself. I was the pony who would claim the title of Necromancer Queen.
The mountain was impossible to traverse simply because it was what one would call jagged. A thorny devil among mountains that was given the fitting name of the 'Jagged Peak'. I felt it suited me. A tall overwhelming titan that could kill you without meaning to, yes, that was my most recent update to my Résumé. Plans for relocation had already been made with thanks to Pinkie Pie. Being the greatest planner of parties, it was logical to assume that moving house was not beyond her repertoire. With any luck, they would have just about finished moving the last of the stocks between the portals.
Jagged Peak was dangerous even to a Dragon, so I was left with no choice but to jump off of my ride's neck. Fortunately, he'd reached the minimum safety altitude before I jumped. That reptile was reliable, that was for sure. So with the aid of my magic, I came to a fairly ceremonious halt just outside the mouth of the cave. As if she knew I'd been thinking about her, Pinkie Pie came shooting from out of the shadows and grabbed me in a massive bear hug.
"Twilight! Thank goodness, you're home! We were so worried, some of the prisoners you helped free said that you were cornered by Princess Luna. How in the wide world of Equestria did you escape?" she asked, not with as much energetic enthusiasm as she used to, but certainly enough to annoy, if you didn't miss it.
"I gave her a choice. Arrest me, or save her guards from the fire-breathing Dragon. Fortunately, she chose the latter. Had I been arrested, no doubt between Celestia's visits and the wards placed throughout my cell, my plan would have been delayed for about a week or so." I replied, stepping into the cave with Pinkie alongside me. The darkness illuminated my eyes further.
"What news of Rainbow Dash? Does her dream still live?" I asked. Pinkie thought for a second before answering.
"Well, she says the Wonderbolts are indecisive at this point. Some want to join us, while others want to remain faithful to the Princesses. Rainbow Dash gave them the option of going neutral and taking up the mantle of the winning side when all was said and done. My guess is they're considering it." she replied with surprisingly clear and concise words. She truly wasn't herself anymore. This must have been how she'd turned out had she spent the rest of her life on that rock farm with her family. Come to think of it, I never really asked about her family.
"True, but unfortunately darling, I do believe that after this war is over and done with, the Wonderbolts won't really amount to much in the end. Grief and sadness will coat the lands before anypony even considers the possibility of losing themselves in the spectacularities those ponies used to perform." I froze. That voice, that richly eccentric voice with the Trottingham accent. I turned towards the source of that voice and out of the shadows came none other than the mare herself. Sporting a slightly faded violet mane and tail, along with a pearl white coat, Rarity stood before me, completely revived and restored.
"R-Rarity... I... how did you... I don't understand. Who brought you back?" I asked.
"I admit, it was a surprise to me also, Twilight. But out of all ponies, Trixie was the first one I saw when I rose from the grave. While you were out, she and Fluttershy gave me the basics of what had happened since my death. After figuring things out, I must say, I was quite upset that you weren't the one to greet me. Even more so that you chose not to bring me back like you did Rainbow Dash and Trixie herself. I mean, how could you think to resurrect Trixie and not me?!" Rarity began to go off at me. Fortuntely, I knew what answer to give her.
"Because, even though it would break Fluttershy's heart not to, I didn't want to subject you to this, Rarity. I know how important your image is to you, and to be an undead corpse, to put it bluntly just didn't seem like it would do you justice. I'd hoped to spare you from this dark path I've dragged everypony I loved down to." I knew I'd won her over s she placed a hoof over her mouth. She always did that when she felt embarrassed at not understanding the viewpoint of those she cared about.
"Oh... Twilight, darling! I see now. You were thinking about what I might want in the way of my image. You're such a thoughtful pony. But I can see right now that you're in dire need of help. You look like something even Tartarus wouldn't want living there. You need all the friends you can get. Which is why I'm grateful for your thoughtfulness, but it's clear that you need me. As such, I'm not going anywhere any time soon. I promise I'll help you in whatever way I can." she declared loudly and proudly. While I finally spoke the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I still felt like it was for naught. The best I could hope to do for her was to use her strengths in the most productive way possible. Battle was not her strong suit.
"Thank you Rarity. In that case, I might need your advice in regards to a banner. We can't very well be an army without a banner to fly under, can we?" I asked. Rarity's eyes lit up at the prospect of using her talents for something so important.
"Oh, idea! What did you have in mind for the symbol?" she asked.
"I was thinking something along the lines of Ouroboros. You know, the snake that curls into a circle and eats its own tail. It's supposed to represent infinity. That's what I want us to represent. Think you can pull it off?" I asked. Rarity gave me a condescending grin.
Darling, it's me you're talking about. No matter what the artistic challenge, I can make it work. Speaking of which, I love what you've done with the Mare-Do-Well costume. It just screams Twilight Sparkle all over. Also, the hood gives it that hip new look everypony's been going for over the last year or so." she said. I smiled at her. It was good to have her back.
"Thank you, Rarity. But I'm afraid that this was done more out of necessity than anything else. The symbols I stitched into the fabric are actually seals. I've been having trouble with my magic lately. My body can't take it all at once. You've can already see in my eyes the physical changes it's made." I explained.
"Yes, I see. Well, if you ever feel like something a bit different, don't hesitate to let me know. Actually, I could make those symbols work for the banner. Of course they won't be seals, just for show." she offered.
"I'm glad you said that, actually, Rarity. I've been looking for a designer to help make some robes for me that would better suit a mage. Although, I'll admit, I've grown accustomed to the hood." I said with a slight blush to my cheeks.
"Twilight, I'll make you something that will combine the flowing robes of a mage and the metallic garments of a Princess. Although, I doubt you'll be very recognisable." she offered.
"That's fine. I want to strike fear into our enemies. If my appearance will deter them from fighting, then that's the sacrifice I'll make. Perhaps in time, everypony will forget what I truly look like and I could step outside again without fear of the Guard looming over me." I said. Rarity smiled and stepped closer to hug me.
"I can see you've given up a lot for this, Twilight. I won't pretend to understand why you chose this path, but you're my friend, and I'll stick by you through thick and thin. Because that's what friends do." she declared. I smiled at her gesture and returned the hug in full.
Personal Log: Entry no. 781240
I am burdened by sorrow. I've lost Spike forever. His association with me has made the ever growing paranoid Celestia fear him. As a result, he has been killed. There is no other logical explanation behind his absence from the cells. The others are each saddened by this news themselves. I fear Rarity, like me has a particular pang in her heart over this loss. Though the feelings between the two were obvious for anypony with half a brain, they never truly discussed the matter between each other to the best of my knowledge. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but what does that say for eternal absence? How fond can a heart be before it breaks apart and becomes consumed by corruption like I have.
Events have led me to believe that I am indeed no longer the Twilight Shining Armour knew. I'm smarter and stronger, and clinically insane given my new doctor's diagnosis (I'm surprised he's still loyal to me after discovering this fact about me). Things are growing steadfastly out of control. I was never equipped to control an entire army to such an extent. Ponies would be one thing, but add Changelings, Dragons and Gryphons to the mix and I'm a veritable Queen. Also, it seems Trixie has begun to peek into my thoughts, ignorant of my knowledge of this happen-stance. Fortunately, I am the superior when it comes to mental manipulation and am able to lock her out of certain parts of my mind. Certain parts of my master plan have to be revealed in moderation.
I mention Trixie's invasion because she's gone behind my back and organised a ceremony for me to be crowned the Necromancer Queen. A self-righteous title that I neither want nor feel I deserve. Still, it's required, now that my legion of followers have gotten excited over the festivities which were no doubt planned by Pinkie Pie. I just wish I could go back and stop myself from doing the things I've done. I wish I could go back and prevent Chrysalis from organising that plot against Canterlot, that way I would remain blissfully ignorant to this day. I just wish... I were back in the castle auditorium, researching under the tutelage of Celestia. Now, I percieve that ignorant past version of myself as a dreamer. But I can't help but to see my current self as living a nightmare from which I will never wake.
I don't really expect to survive this war. Either Celestia, Luna or the magic eating away at me will take me to Tartarus. Celestia, should you ever find this journal, and come across this passage... I am truly sorry for everything I've done and will do in the future. Despite what Luna said, it is too late for me. My crime is beyond forgivable. I've dragged my friends down with me and corrupted them to the point their families wouldn't recognise them. Should you find this journal before everything is over and done with... I know it's beyond selfish of me to ask, but please... save us. I beg you. Save my friends and me by ending my life. Kill me, please!
I couldn't write any more. Tears were streaming down my face and dampening the page upon which I'd chosen to enter this entry. "Somepony, please... stop me." I cried silently in the solitude of my room.
So, it's official; I'm being crowned the Necromancer Queen. What does that mean to me? I suppose it means I've placed myself somewhere alongside the Princesses and Chrysalis in terms of undeserved titles. Maybe I have deserved it, but it's unlikely. I don't really care about that. What I do care about is the next phase of my plan. It's been delayed slightly thanks to this inauguration, but it may just turn out to solidify my order which I plan to give tomorrow night, right after the official ceremony.
I've chosen five locations around Equestria that I believe will be perfect for each. Now all I need to do is wait. Doing so has already caused me to realise that this log book has become less like a Grimoire and more like a Diary. As a result, I have already taken the liberty of transfering my findings from this book and placed them in a new one. The details of my findings are now more detailed. Just like an Author's novel as he revises it over and over again. But if I did that, I'd have ripped all the pages out trying to get the first sentence in. At least that's what Spike would say. I miss him. I miss everything I once had.
A thought came to mind earlier today as I was going through the initial battle strategies with the representatives of the other races. Assuming I won the war, would I bring Celestia and Luna back? Would I even be able to? It's common knowledge that Alicorns are a cut above the rest of us... most of us. It stands to reason that basic Necromancy may not work on them. That being the case, perhaps imprisonment would be best.
Such thoughts have entered my mind frequently as of late. I don't want to kill the Princesses. That would give me no satisfation. Quite the opposite in fact, it would pain me further. Too many lies... I'm stuck in an infinite loop, just like Ouroboros. I need a light in this darkness. I need a truth to cling to, like I've begun to cling to this journal. I no longer hide it in my desk, but within my robes. It's my lifeline to the truth, for only the truth lies within this book. It has become my soul.
I dipped my quill in the ink bottle once more and prepared to write further before a knock on the door interrupted me. I turned my attention to the visitor to find Midnight peeping her head through. "Midnight, what can I do for you?" I asked, placing the quill back in the ink pot and turning to give her my full attention.
"Hey Twilight. Rarity wanted me to tell you that she's finished with your new armour." she replied. My eyes lit up like Hearths Warming lights at the sound of those words. I was genuinely looking forward to seeing Rarity's work.
"Outstanding. Lead the way, Midnight." I said, leaving my desk, but not before I grabbed my journal and tucked it into my robe. Midnight did as commanded and lead me through the intricate turns and waves of the caverns which were dug to allow the army to nest within without any trouble. Rarity had chosen to work near the edge of the mountain's surface. A window of sorts had been made for her convenience, an illusory field covered it to avoid detection, but the sunlight shone through ignorantly. I knew where my piece for the crowning ceremony was because it was the only thing hidden under drapes.
Rarity greeted me with a genuinely giddy smile on her face. "Darling! Perfect timing. The others are here because they wanted to witness your armour's unveiling." she said, clearly only just managing to contain her glee. It must have been something really good for her to be this excited. And as she'd said, the girls were here. Rainbow Dash, Trixie, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Scootaloo and of course Midnight were all present.
"Now it was very difficult for me, considering I had to get in touch with several blacksmiths. Then there was the enchantments placed on it by the greatest Unicorn masters we have available to us. Trixie helped me do some research into those glyphs you were using to contain your magic and we had a stroke of genius. It's a surprise for all of us, that bit." she gloated.
I smiled at her. "So basically, if I don't like it, tough tits for me?" I asked.
"That's right!" she chimed back. We all shared a chuckle before Rarity positioned herself next to the tarp. "And now, our soon-to-be Queen; I present to you the armour which I am proud to say will help you win battles before they've even started. I've dubbed it; the 'Lich Mantle'!" As she named it, the tarp was pulled away and my eyes fell upon what appeared to be a rather plain chestplate, helmet and a large blade. Other than the glyphs engraved on the inside of it, it didn't really shout out 'great accomplishment'. They must have seen the unimpressed stare in my eyes, but Rarity was smiling as though she knew something I didn't.
"No offense, Rarity, but I think death has held on to your sense of beauty after Trixie brought you back." I said. Rarity chuckled.
"Oh, Twilight, I know it doesn't look like much now, but put it on, and you'll see for yourself." she said. Considering she went to not one, but seven different Blacksmiths, arcane ponies and Trixie herself, it must have contained a secret that would shock me to the core. Hesitant to be seen in that sad and plain excuse for armour, I shrugged off my robes, leaving the journal buried within. As soon as I lost contact with the robe itself, my magic spiked and my appearance changed. Darkness shot up from around me and melted into my mane and tail, turning it black, but the once pink streak that had gone red, now changed to a glowing purple. My eyes grew into slits and I think I felt my bones harden. I felt heavy.
Rarity went to work placing the armour on me. First was the chest piece which didn't require any sort of locking mechanism. It just seemed to magnetise itself to my chest. "Uh, Rarity, will I be able to take this off when I want?" I asked.
"Of course, darling. The armour reacts to your will." she replied before placing the helmet over my head. She then went and placed the shoes, which I had failed to notice on my hooves. Finally, the sword rested over my back. Everything was in place. Rarity took a step back from me and smiled. "Alright now. All you need to do is feed the armour some of your magic." she instructed. I did as I was told. Looking into the mirror beside me, I noticed that the armour changed shape. The chest piece began to pull itself apart and between the gaps rested a faint purple glow that would fade in and out every second. My helmet did much the same thing. The shoes also grew, but did not give off the purple glow. Cloth appeared from out of nowhere, taking on a robe-like form. it rested around my torso and my flank, covering my cutie mark. The edges of the robes were inlaid with the same purple as the glow, while the main colour took on a darker shade, much like my mane before everything.
"There we go. Now that's just the first stage of the armour. Try placing more magic into it, in fact, place all of the magic that you don't require into it." she instructed once more. In truth, that kind of magic was around forty percent of my total pool. That was the magic that was changing me, slowly eating away at my body. I'd be happy to give it to the armour instead. I performed the deed. What happened next almost gave me a heart attack. The armour reacted to the magic like a plant on super growth accelerant. The purple glow disappeared and grew out from the helmet to cover my shoulders, back and wrap around my tail. It also rested comfortably around my neck. The shoes began to give off a light purple mist. The chest piece was by far my favourite. As with the neck piece, the purple glow disappeared and spread along my underbelly. What made it my favourite part was that it didn't stop there, it worked its way further back and divided around my vagina and anus, moving on to connect with its counterpart around the tail.
It didn't stop there. The armour pieces themselves changed form again, becoming thicker and more... draconic in appearance. The helmet provided even more of that purple bio-armour and it wrapped around my horn. Without altering the shape of the horn itself, the purple armour took on a jagged and frightening appearance. I tested it with a light spell and the entire thing acted as if it were a part of my horn, the light illuminating from the very tip.
As if that wasn't enough, I felt something dig into my shoulders. A needle of sorts. It wasn't painful, but I did feel it. I felt something else too. Looking around, I noticed that on either side of my body were a pair of oddly shaped wings. One belonged to a pegasus, the other a bat-pony. I could feel them, as if they were a part of me. I wondered how the sword looked. Drawing it from over my back, I saw that it had in fact become two different swords combined into one. No, it was more like two blades with the same hilt. One blade for each side. Ose seemed to be made out of onyx while the other looked like a spine. I couldn't even describe the hilt itself. Clearly it wasn't meant for holding with a hoof. I tested it with my magic. It was easy to swing, very light, so no strain on my magic. Speaking of magic, I felt so much better. I hadn't felt this healthy since after my first Winter Wrap-Up. This must have been the surprise Rarity was talking about, for she and the others looked awestruck by my transformation.
"I take it back, Rarity; you are a genius in all things fashion." I said, turning my gaze solely on her. She looked as if she were about to cry out of sheer joy. How low had I brought her that she'd forgotten what this meant to Equestria as a whole? That her work of art would be used to overthrow the Princesses? With no words said either way, I willed the armour to return to it's normal state. Surprisingly, it only reverted to the state with the purple glow, the plain look didn't seem to work any more. I also noticed that the process of reversion acted much the same way my magic had when I'd removed the robes. It was almost instantaneous.
I woke up feeling sore-headed. Things hadn't been right since my friends up and left. I felt so alone. Describing it was impossible. I had family, but they seemed so far away. My life as I knew it... was over. It was a chore to get out of bed, then another to drag my sorry self over to my own bathroom (I think Canterlot ponies called them en-suites). I looked myself in the mirror. I'd looked better. What I wouldn't have given for Rarity to show up and struggle with me to fix my mane. A service I took for granted, it seemed.
I barely registered my brother and sister as I traipsed past them in the hallway. That happened a lot lately. If I wasn't working, I was wallowing in self-pity and trying to drown it in cider. I knew this path would break my grandmother's heart, and that made me even sadder, encouraging me to drink more. That was the cycle. I drank because I was sad, and I was sad because I was drinking. And the sadder I got, the more I would drink. She would have called it a paradox, or something like that.
I stepped outside, skipping breakfast. It was time to work. I walked with my head hung low. My mind went through the days before the incident, trying to figure out why I hadn't seen the signs. It was obvious, really. But I was such a fool. How could I not have seen that she was unstable? How could the rest of us not have seen?
I was brought to a halt as my head hit wood. I lazily pushed my hat up, expecting to see a tree, but all I saw was a door. A very specific door. The front door to the Library. I sat there, staring at it. To me, it resembled her. It's locked frame resembling her having shut me out. Having taken all but me with her. Even Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went with her, but I was left out in the cold, harsh storm that was everypony giving me distrusting looks.
"Why?" I asked the door. "why'd ya leave me, Twi?" tears began to well up in my eyes. I squeezed them shut and leaned my head against the door. "Why didn't ya take me with ya too?" I began to sob uncontrollably in front of the doorway. I didn't care who saw me.
I felt horrible. Not only had I broken down right in the middle of town, but I'd accidentally shirked my responsibilities on the farm. To top it off, I didn't have any cider. The house was decorated in the traditional Hearth's Warming decorations. Tinsel, baubles, a tree in the corner of the family room with a heart on the top and lights all around. This year it was just the immediate family. While I remained my depressed and shamed self, the others managed to enjoy themselves as best they could. They tried their best to cheer me up, but I wasn't having it.
Then a knock on the door came and I decided to answer it, if only to get away from the jolly folk. I opened the door and saw somepony I hadn't seen for a while.
"Hey there, Ditzy. How ya been?" I asked with as much interest as I could portray.
"Hey, Applejack. I've been good, I guess. My new job has had me working around the clock, so I haven't been able to get out much. Socially, I mean. Anyway, I've got a letter here for you." she said. The held out a fairly plain looking letter with my name written in very intricate writing.
"Boy, ya weren't kiddin' when ya said they had you workin' round the clock. It's Seven in the afternoon. On Hearth's Warming Eve, for Hay's sake!." I said, taking the letter.
"I know, but my new boss asked me to deliver this to you ASAP. So I zoomed on over here as fast as I could to give it to you." Ditzy replied.
"Thank you, Ditzy. Who's it from, anyway?" I asked. It was kind of creepy to see the wall-eyed pegasus act all cryptic.
"Somepony who loves you." was all she said. She then flew off with a wave and I was left to close the door. I made my way back to the dinner table and sat just staring at the letter.
"What's that, sis?" my sister asked. I didn't tear my eyes away from the letter.
"Letter from somepony." was all I said.
"Who from deary?" our Grandmother asked.
"Dunno. All Ditzy said was that it was from somepony who loves me. Family member, maybe?" I contemplated.
"Nnnope! We got all our letters from the family. Nopony left to write to us." My brother replied.
"Ooh, maybe it's from somepony who wants to be your special somepony, and they couldn't wait until Hearts and Hooves day." my sister speculated.
"Ah doubt it." I replied.
"Well we'll never know unless you open it, dear." Granny stated. I nodded in agreement and turned to the back of the letter. It was sealed with candle wax, and a familiar star was imprinted into it. I hesitated, wondering if I should read it. But I had to know. I wanted to know what she had to say for herself. I opend the letter and took the folded pieces of paper out.
As I read through the lines, I began to well up with that kind of happy sadness. Like the kind you get when you miss somepony and are sad they aren't there with you. Finishing the letter, I placed it down on the table beside my dinner and smiled at my family.
"Ah Guess Hearth's warming still has some miracles left to it after all."
Meanwhile...
I waited at the entrance of the Jagged Peak for any sign of her. It had been four hours since I'd given her the letter. The night sky made it difficult to see, but I was on the lookout for the sound of flapping wings.
Sure enough, clumsily, she approached. Ditzy Doo in all her glory. The stone grey pegasus landed next to me with a grin planted on her face.
"Did she get it?" I asked. Ditzy nodded.
"Yeah. She seemed really down, too. She probably needed that letter from you." Ditzy replied. I smiled at her and placed a hoof over her shoulder.
"Thank you, Ditzy. This meant a lot to me. Your daughter's waiting with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. She refuses to sleep unless you're nearby." I said. Ditzy chuckled and made her way inside before I stopped her. "Before you go, I just wanted to show you how grateful I really am for this." I said. I dove towards her confused face and planted my lips against hers. I backed her into the cave wall and pressed myself against her. In the heat of the moment, I felt her wings flap open in arousal as the motion pushed her forward for a moment. I knew she hadn't really had any stimulus since her daughter was conceived, so she was begging for the attention.
I cut the make-out session short as I straightened up and looked her in the eyes. "If you ever want to go all the way like that, just come and visit me whenever. My door will always be open to you." I told her. Still caught in the euphoria, she nodded absent-mindedly, struggling to stay up. I gave her another light kiss before reminding her that Dinky was still waiting. Coming back to her snses, she staggered inside, leaving me to my own devices.
I'd decided to wear my augmented robes instead of the armour of the Necromancer Queen. As it was Hearth's Warming Eve, I decided to postpone my inauguration until the next week. I wanted to spend one more Hearth's Warming as Plain old Twilight Sparkle. In order to do that, I had to give something to my friends... all of them.
Dear Applejack,
I've spent the last few days wondering what to write to you. Should I apologise? Should I wish you a Happy Hearth's Warming? Should I do Both? The question that really tore at me was whether or not you'd bother to read this letter at all, or just throw it in the fireplace. Of course, I'd understand if you did. I wasn't honest with you, and you deserved my honesty more than anypony. Out of all my friends, you've always been the wisest when it came to everything. And you were always the most stubborn.
I don't know if you hate me because I've turned against Celestia and Luna, or if it's because you and Applebloom were the only ones I didn't take with me when I ran away (technically, I didn't take Pinkie either, but she wound up founding the Cult of Necrosis, somehow). The reason I didn't bring you along was because I felt you'd be divided by your friendship with me and your duties to your family. I couldn't do that to you. Another reason was because I didn't want Celestia or Luna using your family to get to us. I say us because I love Big Mac and Granny Smith as well. Like you said when we first met, I'm practically part of the family. Now, I guess I'm the black sheep, huh?
The fact of the matter is, Applejack, that in some form or another, I've broken your heart. And words could never express how sorry I am and how much I wish I could just take it all back. I miss you, AJ. As do the others. Rainbow Dash misses her greatest competition. Rarity misses her messy counterpart (yes, Rarity was brought back, but that was Trixie's doing). I think Pinkie just misses you in general (as well as using the barn for parties). Fluttershy cries whenever she thinks of you, so she deffinitely misses you. There's a hole in our hearts, AJ. And it's where you belong. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle send their regards to Applebloom, too. And hope she's coping in school. I've heard only bad things about Diamond Tiara.
With that said and done, We all wish you a Happy Hearth's Warming. We love you, Applejack.
I find myself writing to you a lot since that letter I had Ditzy deliver on Hearth's Warming Eve. That being said, I still don't know if you even read them, or just throw them away. But I'm comfortable not knowing, as I fear writing back to me could endanger you and your family. This letter will be brief, but probably the most important one I'll ever write to you. For this will be my last letter to you as Twilight Sparkle. By the time you read this, I'll no longer be her. I've reached the point of no return once again. The Cult of Necrosis is dubbing me a Queen. As such, I've decided to take up a new name. Twilight Sparkle need not commit any more sins.
Over the past week, I've found writing to you helps soothe my mind better than writing in my journal does. As such, I shall miss that. Therefore, this letter, as with all the other letters as well as the contents of my journal, will contain nothing but the honest to goodness truth.
I'm scared, Applejack. I'm completely terrified. Not of Celestia or Luna. Not of losing to them... I'm frightened of what I'm becoming. I don't recognise myself. I play the part of confident leader, but I just want to scream. I wish I'd taken you with me. Your honesty would have made the perfect anchor for me. Now I'm adrift in a sea of lies and deceit. My Cult a school of sharks circling the sinking ship that is me. I'm drowning in my own foolishness, Applejack and I find myself thinking of you. Not Rainbow Dash, Trixie or any of the others who I've shared my heart with. I'm lying, even to them. I tell them I love them, and in a way I do. But the love I feel for them isn't anything like the love I feel for you. You are the sole survivor of Twilight Sparkle's legacy. The one thing untainted by my poisonous words. Because of this, I love you. More than anypony else. What remains of the real me belongs to you, Applejack.
I love you,
Twilight Sparkle.
A shiver ran down my entire body. I'd let my mind go, hoping to convey the truth without tainting the letter. What lay on the paper startled me. Partly because I knew it to be true. I loved Applejack. The others were just... fillers. I rolled the paper up into a scroll and wrapped a black ribbon around it. I then covered the bow in candle wax and pressed my insignia into the wax. Taking a minute to let it dry, I called Ditzy over. The grey pegasus had been very close to me lately. She meant quite a bit to me also. Probably because even as a part of the Cult, she was still as innocent as before the entire event. The closest thing to pure that was within my reach.
"Another letter Twilight?" she asked. I smiled at her and nodded. I gave her the scroll and she took it, placing it down at the foot of the bed.
"You've been writing to her a lot lately." she enquired.
"She's the only friend whom I didn't involve in all this. I feel I owe her these letters at least." I lied. Ditzy just kissed my cheek.
"It's a shame, I was hoping to be there for your ceremony." she said.
"You can send the letter after the ceremony if you want to be there that much." I offered. She giggled and hugged me closely. "It's a shame we didn't get to know each other that well before all this. I'd have loved to have a friend like you." I said.
"What do you mean by like me?" she enquired.
"Playfully innocent through thick and thin. Like you are now." I replied.
"I'm glad you see me that way. Most ponies used to look no further than my eyes. I'm not a fool. I just have bad vision, which causes me to have ditzy moments. And my bubbly personality doesn't improve the situation. Everything about me just screams stupid. It's nice to know you can see past the surface." she said. I smiled at her and placed a hoof over hers.
"It's not that hard to find if you know where to look. I saw the real you in your daughter. She's a bright young filly with good manners, a kind personality and the maturity of somepony twice her age. Schools don't teach that kind of stuff. I just have to look at how well you've raised Dinky to see what kind of pony you truly are." I said. Ditzy grinned from ear to ear at me and gave me a long passionate kiss.
"You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear somepony say that. Dinky is my only daughter and to have you of all ponies say such a thing makes me the happiest pony in Equestria. I knew I made the right choice in joining you." she said. Though being reminded of the situation stung, I smiled anyway. She didn't mean anything by it, she just wanted to express her happiness at my compliment.
"Ditzy... what do you think about this whole thing? Was I right to divide Equestria and ruin the peace that's lasted for over a thousand years?" I asked. She thought for a moment. Admittedly it was a funny sight, given her eyes. And after what I'd said, I doubt she would have held my laughing against me, but I chose not to act upon that desire.
"I think that while it looks like a complete mess right now, when everything is said and done, only good can come of this." she replied.
"How so?" I asked.
"You know how with certain friendships, when they have an argument that divides them for a time? Then something happens and they're brought back together, their relationship stronger than ever. What you've done is just like that, but on a much grander scale. When the war is over, whoever wins, those who survive will be the stronger for this. In all things evil, there is always good in the outcome." she said. I was stunned to hear such wisdom coming from her mouth. Those eyes truly did conceal who she truly was.
"Like a forest fire, and a single sprig survives?" I asked. She just nodded.
"You and I may not survive, but something good will come of this." she said. There was a moment of silence as I closed my eyes and felt her presence next to me. "Speaking of which, you'd best get ready. You're going to be crowned Queen in two hours." she said.
The scenery was set. The decorations were justly themed in my own colours with a few blacks, greens and even some red. Ponies wore robes of varying shades of grey, verging on black. I'd donned my armour, letting it take on it's new default form. The purple glowed with vigour today. My friends all wore robes in their own respective colours. Rarity had styled hers in a light grey with intricate purple swirls throughout. Rainbow Dash had an assortment of colours on her robes, much like her mane, but they were a few shades darker. Pinkie's looked almost red, but the pink could still be detected. It was almost like the inside of a watermelon. Trixie had taken the opportunity to wear her own hat along with her robes. It made sense, since she was the only other necromancer. Fluttershy's was perhaps the biggest change of them all. Her robe did not match her in the slightest. It had taken on a sort of pinkish orange hue. To top it off, she'd cut her mane so it was just shy of covering her eye, but I could still see the grim expression on her face. She still hadn't forgiven Midnight for killing Rarity. Midnight herself wore a dark blue cloak with feathers stitched into it.
It was almost like a creepy wedding, only there was no groom at the end of my aisle. My guards, including Fire Reign had donned their own armours. They were a black offshoot of the night guard armour, but more... skeletal. Fire Reign stood ready with my new crown. I'd heard tell she hoof wrestled everypony for the right to present it to me. At least I could be sure of her loyalty.
Walking down that aisle was more difficult that I'd imagined. As I'd written in Applejack's letter, this would be the Death of Twilight Sparkle. I was walking to my death. It was a slow, painful trek. Eyes were upon me, their hopes were the shackles bound to my body. My world, my prison, my death. That's what this ceremony was to me.
As was second nature to me, I grinned with feigned excitement. I'd reached the steps and began to climb. The weight of those shackles tried to bring me down, but I carried them all the same. As I ascended the steps, I began to wonder; why must I become queen? They all obeyed me before, why must I change who I am to suit them? The answer came to me as I touched the top step. Twilight Sparkle should not be the source of my enemies' pain.
I stood before Fire Reign and bowed down. She smiled and began to place the crown over my head. I knew immediately that it was of the same design as the armour Rarity had made for me. I heard it combine with my helmet, felt it's magic work to alleviate me of some of my own. With that bit of relief, I rose once again and turned to face the crowd. My kingdom. "Now come the days of our Queen! May they be blessed! ALL HAIL QUEEN TWILIGHT!!" the pegasus called out. The guards, and the civilians present all saluted and returned the last four words in a loud chant.
"ALL HAIL QUEEN TWILIGHT!!
ALL HAIL QUEEN TWILIGHT!!
ALL HAIL QUEEN TWILIGHT!!
ALL HAIL QUEEN TWILIGHT!!"
The chant went on for a full minute. All the while, I had my eyes closed, waiting for them to settle down. I could feel the uneasiness my friends were developing after seeing my sombre expression. Once everypony was quiet, I opened my eyes and looked straight ahead, down the aisle. My mind allowed me to see myself as I used to be, smiling at me with gratitude in her eyes. She waved at me and turned to leave, disappearing from sight.
"Words... have never been enough of an expression of gratitude for me... But they are all I have to give. So I hope you will all settle for that. I thank you for this honour, and promise to do everything in my power to set things right. Make things the way they're supposed to be." the crowd began to clop their hooves together in a round of applause. "However," my voice echoed around the mountain, silencing everything. "I will not do so as Twilight Sparkle. For her to become queen would be like trying to surpass Celestia and Luna. That was never my intention. However, it is necessary in order for us to succeed. So Twilight Sparkle no longer exists. Your new Queen's name is Pandora!" I declared. I allowed the armour to morph into its true form, the metal bending and warping to suit my figure.
It was done. Twilight Sparkle would be remembered as Celestia's student. I would be remembered as the one who brought Equestria to its knees. I was surprised for the first time as Fire Reign shouted out from beside me. "ALL HAIL PANDORA!!" The chant began again, but this time, it didn't stop.
As I turned toward my friends, an explosion came from above. Something had managed to break through the mountain and enter into the cave. It landed with loud thud in the middle of the aisle. Looking closely at it, it was clad in black, a hood over its head. It stood on two legs and held two swords. Who was this? What was it?
Without hesitation, my uninvited guest ran towards me. The guards stood in his way, but with a single swing, he blew them all back with the force of the move alone. He then continued his assault towards me. Fire Reign went to intercept, but I held her back, drawing my own sword from over my back. Holding it in my magic, I met the black figure half way down the stairs. Our weapons clashed. While I wasn't used to swordplay, I had a keen eye, so I could at least parry. I'd have to correct that weakness when I got the chance.
Surprisingly, The sword wielding being continued to climb the stairs, forcing me back up. He was strong, whoever he was. Suddenly, he broke from the sword lock and tried to run around me. I erected a shield around my body just as the swords came down. He was caught off guard. I took that time to counter with a wide swing. He blocked it, but the force I'd put into the swing created a gust of wind that blew his hood off. I froze in place. The figure clad in black stood down from his assault and looked at me for a moment before snarling at me in disgust. He then retreated within the hole he'd come from. I stood there, completely shocked. I couldn't believe it, but my eyes had never betrayed me before.
Trixie and the others came up next to me, each with their own shocked expressions. Rainbow Dash was the first one to speak. "Twilight...was that...?"
I excused the slip of my name that one time, given the circumstances. I was too upset to correct her. "Yes, Dash... There's no doubt bout it. That was Spike."
"You did WHAT?!" Luna practically screamed at me as I explained my actions.
"My spies discovered her location and I sent Spike out to meet her. I've had enough of these war games. It's time to show Twilight how much trouble she's gotten herself into." I replied, holding a stern expression in front of her.
Luna simply began to pace back and forth in front of me. "You don't send our best defence to the enemy as a warning message! Twilight is no ordinary Unicorn. She's a Necromancer! I don't care how strong Spike is now, he's sure to die, and Twilight will have brought him back!" Luna scolded me. "You didn't sent her a warning message, you sent her a present!"
As if summoned, the two large doors to the throne room opened and said Spike stepped through, his face slightly confused. "You were saying, Luna?" I retorted, moving to meet Spike half way. "My dear Spike, what news have you of Twilight's situation?" I asked, brushing his face with my hoof. At lest somepony was still loyal to me.
The purple dragon took a moment to respond. "I barely recognised her. She looked nothing like she used to. I don't know if it's her new armour or not, but she's attained the form of some sort of Alicorn." he replied. The last word rang through my mind like a bell. Twilight was an Alicorn.
"No... no, no, no NO!" Luna began to have a panic attack. She stepped back and curled up into a ball by the window, silently whimpering to herself.
"Get a hold of yourself! You're an Alicorn too, for goodness' sake." I snapped at her.
"There's more. I overheard her ceremony. She's abandoned her name. She's calling herself Pandora." Spike interrupted. The added information made me pause for a moment.
"That makes no sense. Why would she change her name? It serves no logical purpose. She's always been proud of her name. What's changed?" I asked.
Before anypony could respond, there was a flash of light coming from the East followed by a shockwave that rumbled throughout the castle, shattering the windows. As the light died down, Spike and I made our way to the windows and looked outside. The sight we saw chilled us both to the bone.
"PRINCESS! THE NECROMANCER HAS JUST LEVELLED MANEHATTAN!!!" the voice of a terrified guard called from the entrance to the throne room. I was stunned into silence by the scene beyond. A dark mushroom cloud spewing dark magic the likes of which I'd never seen before.
"She just destroyed the centre of all trade in and out of Equestria. The surrounding docks will not have gone undamaged. She just crippled us." I said to Spike.
"That wasn't her only intention." Spike said, grabbing my attention from the scene before me. It's her response to you for sending me. Princess, I'm afraid that by sending me, you've doomed us all." he concluded. I looked at him for what felt like hours. I knew that what he said was true. As I turned back to look at the mushroom cloud, I knew that he was right. I'd closed off any chances of settling the conflict peacefully; I'd just invited Twilight to destroy us all.
~Pandora~
I could feel the darkest magic I'd ever felt before surrounding the city of Manehattan. The explosion had completely destroyed the buildings in the area, including the inhabitants within. Everything had been disintegrated within a matter of seconds. And I found it utterly beautiful.
"YOU'RE GONNA USE THE ONES I LOVE AGAINST ME, CELESTIA?!!! WELL BRING IT ON!!! I'LL DECIMATE THE ONES YOU FOUGHT TO PROTECT AND BRING THEM ALL BACK, JUST FOR YOU!!!" I screamed into the air. My words held power as the mushroom cloud around me began to spiral around. The magic emanating from it shot out like tendrils, digging into the ground around me. Waves of energy radiated throughout the land. I knew its purpose. "We'll start with Manehattan." As I spoke, a pile of dust near me began to form a tiny whirlwind. That whirlwind compressed, taking on the form of a hoof.
