> Something Very Wrong With Canterlot
>  by Lighttone GryphonStar
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> S1 Prologue: The Mysterious Hippogriff
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twenty days before Canterlot fell...

Thousands of miles in the far north of the country, the mighty brown and black airship floated gently into a port town near the side of a massive mountain. A minotaur's voice echoed over the intercom, announcing their arrival. Among the grouping of ponies were two in particular who had come here for an important mission. They unload multiple machines much to the minotaur's annoyance as he had to stand guard. Nopony was paying him by the hour, rather he needed to empty out the space.

The two ponies couldn't care less about his anger, they only needed his transportation. The unicorn; orange with a darker orange, messy mane, and curly beard rushed over to the edge of the port's balcony. "Quibble Pants, it's incredible."

"Yes, it is, Sunburst." The pegasus placed down the last of it and paid the minotaur. After which he joined Sunburst at the edge. Both peered over the view of their destination. "This is why I brought you."

"Graviton Falls!" Sunburst admired the scene. It was the site of the largest dam in Equestria. Standing just outside of the border of the Crystal Empire, near the very top of the highest mountain in the land. So high that its silhouette blocked out half the sun's light and warmth. The only light came from the torches that tourists brought.

"According to Daring Do's notes, this was created by wendigoes, thousands of years ago, before Equestria was even founded." He pointed out that the entire dam was forged out of giant permafrost. "Made from the same kind of stuff we found in the ruins of the Giant Blue Hourglass."

"Yes, but the ones you and Rainbow Dash found were maroon red, this is blue." Sunburst pulled out a periscope and zoomed in for a closer look. "Wait a minute." He noted the strange discoloring happening all along the edges.

"Exactly, for thousands of years it was maroon red, but recently several parts of it have been changing purple, indigo and blue." Quibble Pants took a step back to it all and stood by the machines. "When I saw the other one with Rainbow Dash, I couldn't believe it, but now..."

Sunburst turned back around and found his friend covered in sweat. "You can't back out now. You brought me here because I'm the foremost expert on magic."

Quibble Pants gave a huff. "We've come so far already, I don't want to fail now."

"Don't be so negative."

"I'm not negative, I'm realistic." Quibble Pants crossed his arms.

"Really this coming from the comic nerd!" Sunburst laughed.

"They are graphic novels!!" Quibble Pants raised his voice.

Sunburst lowered his volume to match Quibble Pants'. "And that is your greatest contribution to our magical society, you write fanfiction, I'm the one with the actual power!" He pulled out dozens of blueprints in a glowing aura.

"I'm also a historian!" Quibble Pants raised his finger. "That's the most important thing."

Sunburst shrugged his shoulders. "True." He raised his finger up to his temple. "The more knowledge you have, the better... That's why Twilight is better than all of us."

"Well, truthfully the princesses aren't ready to tell Twilight. So, you're the next best thing." Quibble Pants straightened up. "Well, you and Jack Nox... the batpony."

"Oh yeah, I know him. Created a massive blaze that nearly consumed the school when we were colts." Sunburst rolled his eyes. He walked slowly over to the machines. "Where is he anyway?"

"At the top of the dam." Quibble Pants narrowed his eyes at that location. "Celestia wanted the best. And we are the best."

"Not a good assurance." Sunburst raised an eyebrow. Feeling rather worthless now, the unicorn turned the machines on. Pulling out a scanner and aiming it at the dam. "What's the magic pulse rate at this range, or do we need to get closer."

"Getting to the top should suffice." Quibble Pants cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "There shouldn't be any this close. Reports were saying the closest spike was right at the foot of the dam--" He was stopped as the scanner blared loudly. "What?!" Rushing over to Sunburst and grabbed the scanner. "It can't be going off now."

"Oh, but my machines never lie!" Sunburst sounded offended now. " We got a pattern, my friend."

"This said a two point two"

"One is the base level of a unicorn." Sunburst turned on other machines. "Right now, it's showing a magic pulse equivalent to a supercharged unicorn."

"Try again!" Quibble Pants shouted. "It just jumped to a two-point five."

"Impossible." Sunburst turned on all his machines. "That's... getting close to alicorn level."

"Are you serious?" Quibble Pants

"Yes, I'm serious!" Sunburst flicked out the wheels and pushed the machines over to the ramp. "We need to get to Jack Nox as soon as possible."

"Agreed." Quibble Pants grabbed the other of the machines. "You know he won't listen to us."

"He won't have to with these ratings!" Sunburst was now the one sweating in fear. "It's steadily growing higher."

With that final word, the two left the port. There was a rough shaking that followed which knocked the minotaur off his footing. Luckily he was caught in the arms of a tall hippogriff wrapped in the finest business suit. This was a confusing sight since despite his height being taller than the minotaur, the hippogriff barely looked frail enough to hold of his own body let alone catch such a strong and big minotaur.

"Careful, Iron Will." The hippogriff straightened the minotaur upright and exited the airship.

Iron Will's eyes widened. "Sir Night. What are you doing off the airship?" He stopped at the bouquet of flowers on the ground. "I'm sorry, someone as royal as you shouldn't have to drop stuff to pick me up."

"It's okay..." The hippogriff leaned down to grab the flowers. His bones were so old and frail that each one popped loudly as he leaned down. "Just be more careful when I'm around."

Iron Will took the flowers and placed them in the hippogriff's hand. "No, it's my fault." Just as his skin touched the hippogriff's hand, the frail creature shivered away. "Sorry."

Sir Night gave no more responses to it and turned to the sight of Quibble and Sunburst in the distance. "Keep the airship here a little longer. I wish to place these flowers on my brother's grave before we go back to base."

"I..." Iron Will was originally thoroughly annoyed with the requests of the two sent by Celestia. But this request came from someone that all of his kind respected for millennia. After everything this old hippogriff had done for his species, a few lost hours of gas were only a minor inconvenience. 'Sure, take as much time as you need, my lord."

******

Thousands of miles away in the land of the kirins. The winds kicked around the kirins' manes as they stood guard. Their resolve was good, and their stance was bold against the beating heat of the Sun.

Along an all too accurate path, a carriage surrounded by unicorn and kirin guards rode forward. Its movement was unheeded by any stones or rocks that dare attempt to stall it. Inside were four creatures: two kirins in fine uniform and two unicorns with trim clean suits devoid of any creases and seams.

The older kirin, a stallion, white in color with a black mane looked toward the yellow unicorn with a blue mane and spoke first. "I'm glad to see that your training has paid off. I’ve never seen my soldier so clean and proficient. Now my country will be ready for anything. I thank you, Comet Tail, from the bottom of my heart." He held one hand out of the carriage and sighed in relief.

“No problem, President Sable.” Comet Tail was glad. It had been so much hard work, but it paid off perfectly. He knew now they would be ready for anything.

"Indeed, honey," the slightly younger kirin noted as he placed his hand in the older kirin's free hand. At first, though, the younger kirin pulled back at the sight of the unicorn. "Sorry," he whispered under his breath.

“No, it's okay to be a little romantic?” Comet laughed.

The younger kirin turned away, wanting to hide his face. President Sable placed his fingers under the chin of the younger kirin and brought his nose to his own, making the young one smile. “Yes, this is my fiance.” President Sable spoke up. “Once peace has been brought to our land, I am planning to take this wonderful creature as my own.”

“Maybe you two, me and my coltfriend can have a double date.” Comet’s words only confused them. He waved his hand to calm them.

"Sounds fun..." The young kirin answered.

"Back onto topic, Comet Tail." President Sable interjected. "I hear this Princess Celestia wanted all the nearby countries to be ready for something. Yet we still do not know what?"

"Yes, her draconequus friend said, that something will happen this month that could affect every country around Equestria."

"Does this have to with that attack on the hippogriff capital--" He was stopped at the carriage abruptly halting its movement.

"What's going on?" The younger kirin's face filled with paleness once more.

"Don't concern yourselves." Comet held up his hands to them before looking at the unicorn beside him. "Watch over President Sable... and his future husband." The unicorn took up his sword while Comet pulled out a long gladius and leaned his head out the window.

Outside the heatwave had been replaced by a cold stickiness as a lone creature in a black coat stood in the way of the carriage. He was holding out a long katana and aiming it forward. Up in the sky, the Sun had gone pale. It not only twisted the feeling of this scene but gave a greater feeling that something was terribly wrong.

"Hmm, it's a black dragon... I think." Comet Tail looked to the guards surrounding them. "Ace, Drone, take him in, alive."

"Yes, sir. " The two guards nearest to him left the group and charged forward. The black 'dragon' pulled his katana back into his sheath as they got closer. Comet could only smile at what seemed like a perfect victory.

However, with a single draw that seemed far too fast for a dragon, the guards were cleaved in half. A coldness increased in the air as blood poured from their wounds and toward the carriage.

"Shit," On Comet's words, the others charged in. Comet pulled his head back in and hit the ceiling, "Grape Vine, get us out of here."

"Yes, sir." On that, the carriage heavily turned and raced in the other direction.

"What's happening?" President Sable questioned.

"I don't know... there is no way a dragon could move that fast." Comet concentrated magic in his horn. "Hmm.."

"What are you doing Sir Comet?" The younger kirin questioned.

"Contact spell. I need to know if this was what Discord was warning us about." He closed his eyes. However, seconds later his eyes opened and his magic faded. "What? That makes no sense?"

"What is it?"

"I can't contact Canterlot at all... nor anything in Equestria."

"Could they be blocking us?" the other unicorn commented.

"No... it's like there is nothing there." Comet waved his head back and forth in denial before pulling on a different spell. "I'll try a searching spell. I need to see if there are any more attackers coming." Comet closed his eyes once more and the outside world was revealed in his mind's eye.

He could see everything around the carriage for up to a hundred meters in a circular spread, "Damn it, your guess was correct there are magic dampeners in the area." He placed his hand on the shoulder of the unicorn beside him narrowing his sense to find the source. The unicorn matched his power and output.

However, the two felt their mind being yanked far harder than they ever felt. They shrieked in agony, feeling their magic raised far up into the sky and racing toward the source. It lay far outside of the land of the kirins, across the celestial ocean, and into the snowy north. "Is that a... hippogriff?" Comet Tail was thrown out of the spell and crashed back into his chair.

"Hold on," the other unicorn answered. "I've still got the signal..." The kirins leaned back as the unicorn's eyes started to bleed. "No, no, no, what are you?!?!" All three jumped back as the unicorn screamed in agony, twisted, and convulsed.

"Break the connection!" Comet Tail shouted.

"They... won't... let me!!" the unicorn was stopped as his head exploded.

"How could a hippogriff do such a thing?" President Sable tried to get answers.

"Hold on, President Sable. I see something else--" Comet stopped his words and his eyes popped open. "Look out." He threw his hands up and pulled a shield of magic over the president as a giant shockwave burst through and tore the carriage in half.

"Kind!" The president reached out to his fiance as the two were separated by the attack.

Comet Tail and the president's fiance were sent to the far right as the other half of the carriage was pulled into the air by a yellow aura of magic. Another 'dragon' landed between them. This one was white with two giant saws.

******
> File 1: Month 17-Part 1: Three Prong Attack
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seventeen months and twenty-nine days after Canterlot fell...

"I never did find out who those 'dragons' were." Comet Tail put down the cigarette and puffed slowly smoke in the face of the therapist. This was his thirteenth visit after leaving the hospital and his boredom had reached a peak. "And that was the last thing I remember before everything went black."

The gray earth pony therapist looked at him with an expression unreadable behind her thick glasses, but he could tell she wasn't surprised by this statement at all. She had probably heard it from dozens of patients that day alone. "Yes, that's good much better than last week."

"Yeah, seventeen months of pointless work." Comet Tail crushed his cigarette and threw it perfectly into the ashtray.

The therapist made a face as if to say something else, but didn't speak up. She turned around on the chair and started fiddling with some papers. A moment later she said: "Your file says your work was classified."

"That doesn't matter to me." Comet Tail turned away.

"It should!" The therapist urged. "You are the only survivor of that mission. The more we work, the more we have of lost those memories, you just need a bit more work." She twirled her pencil around. "Maybe we could--"

"Right, Doctor Allswell?" Comet's voice was filled with a bit too much snark to care for. "Is this work going to help bring my leg back?!" Comet slapped at the metal limb with a broken gladius caked in dust strapped onto it.

"You at least can walk." The therapist tried to help him smile.

"Yeah, but I couldn't during the war." Without any hesitation, he walked over to the window and pulled it open. In the distance, the Canterlot's mountain once stood, now only a crater remained.

"That is none of your problems. The King has been good to us since the princesses's disappearance. He gave you a new leg and all of this good technology." Doctor Allswell held up her hands to the machines around the room. All were monitoring Comet Tail's actions and movements across the room.

"Right, the King is so great, yet we never have seen him directly." Comet's eyes wandered upward to the twisted and distorted image that was once Canterlot, now a floating fortress above the crater. "My mission failed mere days before that place appeared."

"Well, there are still ponies working on getting you back on your hooves and back to fighting." The doctor held out the papers that she had been fiddling with earlier.

"What? And serve that tyrant!" Comet Tail took another puff of his cigarette. "I'd rather stick to my private business."

"There are other options. You could join the guard or even become a knight again." The therapist leaned forward over the desk.

"I said, no!!" Comet Tail rushed over and smashed his cigarette into the papers. He snickered as the ashes consumed the signature line. He didn't wait any longer, heading toward the door.

“Wait, your session is not over yet.”

Comet didn't care to finish his own answer. Instead, he opened the door and left the room, making sure to slam the door behind him. This left the therapist puzzled and confused.

Doctor Allswell leaned back and tapped out the flaming paper, finally giving her own annoyed huff. “So close…” She wrote some notes down and turned to a phone.

“State your name and rank.” The voice on the other side was quick and strong in his words.

“I am Doctor Ashley Allswell of the Raven Institut. Rank, Lieutenant Captain of the Poena Guard.”

“State your business.”

Doctor Allswell got up from his chair and stared deeply at the crater that Comet had shown so much anger toward. “I have my next report on Comet Tail for the king.”

******

The one on the other side of the line took every word to count. “Good. I’ll take the report to him once I arrive back at Nigrum Crystalli.” The yellow pegasus closed his phone up and turned back to his work. He was standing over a burning field of dying trees near the Everfree Forest.

“Captain Iron Sentry.” A soldier walked up to him. “We found fifty rebels inside, but still no sign of it.”

“Bring forward any that are still alive.” Iron Sentry commanded, a frown on his face.

The soldier turned away and gestured to the other soldiers. Twelve ponies were brought forward. They were covered in dirt and blood, barely able to stand. Iron Sentry approached them with a scowl, keeping himself from staring directly into their eyes. Most of them were very old or broken souls. However, his eyes stopped as among them were two children. 

Iron Sentry slowly walked to the children. He leaned down and smiled at their small faces. “Tell me, were there any other children in the safe house.”

“No, sir.” The soldier behind him answered.

Iron Sentry’s face quickly frowned. “Good, good.” He rose back up and looked at the older ponies. “Now I will ask this once and only once. Where is it?!”

The older ponies shook their heads and pointed in different directions, some even pointing to themselves. None of them answered correctly. It didn’t seem to be out of some absolute loyalty but rather something else. Something that Iron Sentry could see very clearly.

He walked away from the children and looked over at each older pony. Finally, he stared deep into each eye as he walked by. Once he reached the end, his hands shook to his sword. The cranks of metal in his wings echoed throughout the area. “I see, Lieutenant Outer. Remove the children.”

“Sir?”

Iron Sentry turned to the soldier with a glare. “Do as I said, a child should never see such brutality.”

Understanding the order, the children were quickly removed from the area. His kindness to them was indeed quite strange to the soldiers, but it brought less fear from them than his rage. The children saw mercy in Iron Sentry's eyes as they were pulled away. But there was also something else he dare not let even his most loyal see. It was a sign of defeat.

Iron Sentry turned away once they were out of sight and looked toward all the older ponies once more, finally speaking to them. “He gave strength and you ran from it.” The soldiers lifted strange weapons with barrels on the end. “He gave you valor and you denied it.” The soldiers aimed their weapons as the tip began to glow. “He gave you kindness and you give him hatred.” On that final word, the soldiers pulled their triggers.

As the light burst outward from each weapon and the loud bangs bounced over every wall. Iron Sentry eyes shook at every scream but kept a solid face, not letting them see him falter at all. He kept a calm stern mind and stayed ready and loyal to the kingdom he was now forced to serve. The kingdom that had enslaved them all.

"Thank you for your mercy, Flash." A soft voice echoed behind his ear, breaking his resolve for only a second. He didn't turn around as he knew only he could hear the voice.

Once the barrels stopped humming, he looked up to a tear in the ceiling. He closed his eyes at the feeling of rain pouring down. Under his breath, he whispered to the voice, “Thank you for this... Pale Mare.”

"Sir? Sir? Sir?" Another soldier ran up.

Iron Sentry's eyes popped open and faster than anypony could process, metal wings pulsed out and wrapped around the neck of the soldier. "There better be a good reason for interrupting my prayer?!" His words were pure rage.

"Sir... We found it." On those words, Iron Sentry only squeezed tighter.

"Are you sure? Where?!"

"It was exactly where Sir Night said it would be. Just beyond these plains. There are some ruins of a clocktower... and an altar with a giant crystal hand."

"Show me..." Iron Sentry finally dropped him to the ground.

The soldier led the way and the rest followed. Iron Sentry had given the command, but didn't follow until the last second. It wasn't until he felt a touch on his shoulder, that he joined them. The hand belonged to a pale mare that only he could see. Her face was covered in static and her body moving like that of a ghost.

******
> File 2: Month 0-Part 1: Blowing Up Ballons
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hours before the fall of Canterlot...

Three party experts arrived in the heart of Canterlot. Stopping at the foot of the castle, the chariot opened to reveal Pinkie Pie in the brightest of pink jester attire. She rolled out and into the hands of Pokey Pierce, wearing the finest of suits. He threw her into the air where she flipped and spun, throwing out several purple and blue smoke bombs. Landing in the arms of Cheese Sandwich, who was wearing an equally bright yellow jester outfit. The two spun around three times over before posing with Pierce ending the scene by landing his own flip on top of their arms as fireworks went off behind him.

The audience clapped and cheered upon their arrival. The three dropped down and bowed to them and each other before realizing the mistake. Turning back to the cart, Cheese facepalmed. "He forgot the sign!"

Pierce let out an embarrassed chuckle as he watched the crowd's reaction to the comedy trio. ""I did not!" He scoffed at the accusation.

"What's the big deal?" Pinkie brushed it off "You did at least remember to bring the cakes." Pinkie Pie pointed out to him.

The greyish blue pony followed her hand to the top of the chariot and the missing anniversary sign. "What?" Pierce jumped back. "They were up there with the sign after we left Ponyville."

"You sure?" Cheese rolled his eyes. "You must have just forgotten, again."

"Don't mock me!" Pierce screamed back.

"Calm down you two!" Pinkie Pie jumped between them. "I'm sure there's a perfectly fine explanation--" As if on cue, a certain laughter could be heard around them. It started within the crowd and echoed toward them. Swimming around them with fluffy cotton candy clouds, Discord appeared and landed on top of the chariot with the sign in one hand and the cake in another, only the message had been changed.

"Happy anniversary, Tia!!" The three said in confused unison.

"Discord! This is supposed to be your big day!!" A yellow glow picked him up and wiped away his sheepish smile. The four and the audience turned to see Princess Celestia landing down from the castle. "It's the tenth anniversary of your reforming." The alicorn floated him into her arms.

"Oh, I couldn't resist mocking the fact it also happened just days after your birthday!!" He wrapped around her like a snake, making her blush. "You can't hide how old you are getting." With that, she threw him aside into a bed of pink clouds.

"Okay, okay. Enough mockery on all sides." She fixed the sign and turned her attention to Pinkie Pie, Cheese, and Pierce. "Thank you three for helping with the party." The alicorn bowed to them before noting something else. "Where are the rest? I asked for everyone to attend."

"Oh!" Pinkie Pie laughed it off and pulled out a list. "Twilight will be here very soon, just need to make a quick teleport to the Castle of Friendship. Applejack has one more apple delivery and she'll be here. Fluttershy should get here first since she's carrying the tea. Rainbow Dash has invited several wonderbolts and the CMC, but Sweetie Belle couldn't make it. Spike and Rarity had several orders last night with the wonderful Coloratura so they will be arriving later in the evening. And finally, I invited my sisters. The three should arrive after Fluttershy."

"Sounds like quite a bit of chaos today..." Celestia lowered her head. "I had hoped everyone would show up as soon as possible"

"Chaos!!" Discord cheered out loud and splashed chocolate rain on Celestia. "I wouldn't have it any other way." His tail wrapped around his leg of Celestia while his claw picked up a teacup. "As long as my favorite mares can join my tea party, I am content."

"Of course, conversations with you and Fluttershy are always such a joy." Celestia tried to hide her blush as Discord floated closer.

"Is that what you're looking forward to most? Teatime with dear me and Fluttershy?" He blinked at her with giant eyelashes.

Celestia nodded. "I haven't seen her for several months."

The three party ponies watch the royalties lock eyes. Pinkie Pie didn't realize it, but both the stallions she arrived with were reaching for her hands at the sight of the soft romance happening in front of them. The pink mare jumped forward, leaving their hands empty, and glares at each other's sight.

"Well, let's get everything ready!" Pinkie Pie fired off some canons. "We brought all of the entertainment." Flipping back around, she didn't notice the two stallions hiding their hands and glares. "Come on, guys!" She grabbed their hands and pulled them into the crowds.

"Let's get this show on the road." Cheese Sandwich cheered with Pinkie.

"Yeah, party on!!" Pierce shouted. Cheese and Pierce got everything ready, but kept a watchful eye on Celestia and Discord a bit longer. Both of them couldn't help but see the obvious and wished they had the same between them and Pinkie Pie. The two stallions turned to Pinkie and watched the proud mare throw around party streamers and multi-colored pillows.

They danced with her as she moved from spot to spot, getting everything absolutely perfect. There were giant candy canes, pink and green snow machines, star blasters and so many bright lights. Cheese brought out plenty of food, many were his family's best assortments of cheeses. Pierce blew up thousands and thousands of balloons from his family's factor.

The three danced for several minutes with the crowd, waiting for everypony else to arrive. Pinkie Pie couldn't help but see how the two stallions kept eye contact with her as they danced. She was so happy to be here with them. Never did she consider anything wrong at all. "We are going to be best friends forever," she whispered to herself as the two stallions smiled.

They both heard her whispers and tried to keep a proud smile. Both wanted more from her and less from the other. Both wanted to be in her life forever and wanted to stand as strong with her as Discord and Celestia stood together. The two stallions were a mix of emotions but kept a brave front.

This wasn't just going to be a big day for Discord and Celestia. The two stallions had in their minds, bold plans. They wanted their feelings to be clear as well. Today, they were going to make their move on Pinkie Pie. They were going to break ties with the other stallion and take this bright pink mare for their own. Neither knew that they chose the same day. None knew the confrontation that was about to happen as the cheering drew to a close.

But truth be told, no pony in the whole city knew what was about to happen on this day. The moment that would change everything was just hours away and the first sign came with a new arrival at the front gate. The guards came to the attention of a strange orange pony in a white robe. "Who are you?!" They stopped him.

"My name is Nick Kray." His crooked horn slipped out of his hood and K shaped mask glowed at them. "Am I late for the party?"

The guards straightened up and their weapons dropped to the ground. Their faces were forcibly turned away. Their legs moved on their own, far away from the castle gate. "Everything awaits your will, King Kray!!" Giving their final words, the guards jumped into the moat around a castle and drowned themselves.

******
> File 3: Month 2-Part 1: Through the Shadows
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two months into the fall of Canterlot...

The winds kicked hard against the small airship as it came to a halt. Two ponies walked over the edge and looked upon their destination. Below that was a massive crater where a majestic mountain once stood. It held the crown jewel of the country, a beautiful city named Canterlot. Known for its incredible towers, immaculate white walls, and mesmerizing golden edges.

But now, the mountain was just gone, and Canterlot...

"So this is the place, Captain Flash." The brown earth pony trained his bow at the sight of a giant black crystal floating above the crater. "Ironic, this will be my first time in such a big city." He tried to cut the tension with a laugh, but his captain wasn't smiling.

"We're not tourists, Lieutenant Timber." The yellow pegasus held up his spear. and poked the surface. Despite the seemingly solid appearance, the walls of the crystal shimmered like a pool before shooting off small magic surges from the touch. Flash backed off and narrowed his eyes.

"Not from outside anyway." The pilot laughed with Timber. He pulled a lever and the anchor shot through the crystal walls. The sounds of crushing wood echoed back and surprised them. "I'll keep it as steady as possible, but these high winds are a constant problem." 

"Fine, if you don't hear from us in an hour, leave." Flash jumped off the edge and landed on the massive chains of the anchor. Yanking on it with all his strength, he smiled. "At least the dock is still here."

"So it's as Cadance assumed." Timber jumped down softer and landed on the chain a bit more roughly.

"The Princess Cadance could sense pieces of the Canterlot within the crystal, but she wasn't sure how much of it was left." Flash corrected the naming and walked into the crystal walls, slowly. Just as it did with his spear, the pegasus passed through the solid-looking surface with ease.

"Well, any air on the other side." Timber was a bit more hesitant.

"Yes. But I can't see much." Flash's voice came through perfectly as if there was no wall at all. The surface of the crystal was actually extremely thin to the point that it felt more like moving through the surface of water. He waved his spear left and right as he made his way to the dock. "Turn on a torch."

"Why not just shoot a flare?--"

"No, any strong sources of magic would activate a violent reaction from the crystal!" Flash shouted. Checking his wings, he made another note. "Also, I can't fly in here."

"What?!" Timber flicked the mechanical torch and followed after him. As soon as he passed beyond the veil, his armor felt heavier, throwing him off guard to the point that he nearly fell off the chain.

"What happened?" Flash caught him.

"I don't know..." Timber adjusted himself. "It's like half my strength is gone."

"My flight and your strength." Flash took the torch and held it up to see where the dock was. Arriving at the edge, he was surprised to see it was in mildly perfect shape. The paint was faded and there was wear and tear but otherwise, it would be able to hold the airship with no problem. "Okay, tighten the anchor--" He was stopped as Timber shouted and cursed.

Turning around to Timber with the torch revealed the corpse of a pegasus. It had been impaled through the signpost. "How did that happen?"

"So... My assumption was right." Flash approached the corpse with a wide stance and poked the wings with his spear. "He wasn't killed by the impaling."

"What are you talking about--" He was stopped as the wings broke off so easily.

"The fall killed him." Flash dropped his wide stance and turned to the path of the dock.

"How could a pegasus die from falling?"

"Because they had no magic to catch them." Flash clapped his wings loudly at Timber. "Just as we have no magic."

"Impossible!" Timber flipped back around to the crystal walls they walked through. "Are you saying?"

"Yes, the entire crystal prevents magic." He gestured for Timber to catch up as they reached the front of the Guard Station.

There was dried blood over the walls and edges, putting both soldiers on guard when they spotted two pegasus dead, fallen the same way as the previous one. The uneasiness of each sight only assured that Flash's assumptions were real. And yet the lack of attention toward the bodies showed a greater concern. They were old and left to rot and decay as if ponies never noticed them or were too scared to go near them.

Flash pointed toward the chains holding up the gate. Timber aimed and shot them. The smell was the first thing that hit them upon opening the gate. It was so horrible and yet they couldn’t quite place why. There was fresh mud across the ground sticking to their feet. This meant that the realm inside the crystal wasn't completely separated from the outside. "So, rain still gets in here."

"Yeah, but what is the cause of the smell? Those bodies are too old." Timber walked over to some candles and flicked them on.

Moving quietly through the gateway, the two ponies made their way to another guard station. This one was much taller and had a lighthouse design. Flash hoped they would get a better sight of the city from there. However, it seems somepony else had a similar idea. They stopped at another corpse in front of the lighthouse station door.

"This one is an earth pony." Timber flipped the body over. He was relieved to see it wasn't somepony he recognized but it was still disheartening to see one of his species dead as well.

"This one is fresh." Flash poked it with his spear, showing the air was still escaping the body. "It looks like..." He leaned his torch over the corpse and pulled Timber away without warning. "It’s been ripped apart!!"

"What--" Timber stopped at the grizzly wounds that the darkness hid before. "How? Why?" He shivered at the broken arms and shredded legs.

"I have no idea..." He trained his spear at the sound of a trash can falling. "Come on, let's get inside and turn on the signal."

Opening the door revealed two more corpses. These were even fresher and seemed to be blocking the door. Turning back around Flash noted the holes and the spears nearby. "Wait, were they trying to stab him?"

"No, why would they?!" Timber's eyes trembled at the scene.

Moving further ahead they found some vents from other nearby buildings. They stopped as the vent shook loudly. Poking them only made blood seep through. A corner popped loose and dropped a unicorn horn down to their feet. It appeared as if it had been broken off and held in a bloody hand.

Flash kicked the horn out of the way. "What is going on here?"

Soon enough they reached the top, despite finding more gruesome scenes at every turn. At the top, they found a gathering of food around the giant lamp. "Looks like a refuse."

"Or a last stand." Flash pulled open the boxes. "It's fresh. Grab what we can carry." Leaning his spear against the wall, he took a bite of some bread and admired the large assortment of weapons.

"Okay, but first let's get this lighthouse up and going." Timber pulled out his tools and jumped under the thing. Luckily, he had some spare batteries. It wouldn't be enough to make a permanent light post, but enough to signal to the airship and the rest of the fleet beyond the mountain range.

"Afterwards, we can scan the city for the six and the princesses--" They were both stopped as a loud explosion shook the entire building. Flash rushed over to the window and turned toward the source of a bright light. His eyes widened as it came from the direction of the airship. "No!!" He pulled out his scope.

"What happened?!" Timber screamed from under the machine.

"Something blew up the airship!!"

Timber's heart stopped at the words. "Did Cole Stand escape?!"

"Don't know?! Flash narrowed his eyes.

"What do you think happened?" Timber tried to rush out from under the giant lamp.

"The crystal! It must have reacted to something." Flash moved back as his mind raced on possibilities. "But there was nothing magical aboard the airship. It didn't react when we arrived, why now?!" He was stopped upon feeling something icy cold against his back.

Turning around to it, he froze at the sight of a pale mare. Flash felt so very cold in her presence that he could see his breath and even ice forming around her. She looked so familiar to him, but he couldn't get any details of her species or face as her appearance was covered in static like that of a TV screen.

"Who are you?" Flash whispered.

The pale mare didn't answer, instead, she pointed toward the doorway they came through. Her eyes turned toward him and for a moment, he thought she would attack, but she didn't. She smiled at him and opened her mouth, but no words came out. Seemingly realizing this she stopped and lowered her head. She turned her attention back to pointing at the doorway.

Flash stepped closer to her, but she backed off and pointed harder at the door. "What are you trying to show us?" Before he could get any more information, she vanished like a ghost.

"Is somepony else here?" Timber shouted from under the machine. He didn't see any of it.

"I don't know--" Flash put up his guard at the sounds of moans beyond the door. "Timber, something is outside." He slowly approached the door and leaned it open. His eyes widened to see the corpses twitching and crackling loudly. After a few moments, they sprang upward and shifted toward them. "Lieutenant, forget the light! We're leaving now!" He held up his spear as one of the bodies raced toward the door with jaws open.

******
> File 4: Month 16-Part 1: The Encounter!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The flapping of the helicopter's wings buzzed around them all as they held tight to the straps above their heads. Nine soldiers, three from each race of pony all dressed in the same attire. Purple cut tight full-body suits with blue gloves and blue boots, with blue masks and purple large-brimmed hats.

They were all gathered together with one purpose and as the sounds of blades outside altered into a hover they took in a gulp of fear almost in unison. They knew what was coming next. They all faced a screen at the front of the room.

Light from it shone over them, but a shadow broke it as quickly as it appeared. The shadow was black and always void of a face or any form of an appearance outside of a small hat brimmed differently from theirs and a single solid red circle where the left eye would be.

"Maredowells, Dos, Cinco, Siete, Nueve, Catorce, Diecisiete, Diecinueve, Veintidós, Veinticuatro," the figure called out each of their numbers. Though the voice was hidden behind static, it was female and a distinct ascent that she was trying to hide. "You nine are my best soldiers. Therefore I expect the best.” The floor opened under them; they gripped tighter to their straps. "Strich Blauer will allow us in this airspace for only a few minutes, so Uno will drop you off and leave there as soon as possible. Complete your mission and find your escape routes. Dos, Catorce, and Diecinueve will be in command until you return to base." With that, the figure saluted them.

They saluted back, and in better unison spoke, "Of course, Commander Mad Jack." The transmission ended. The three in the front nodded to their soldiers pulled up some explosives and let go of their straps. The rest followed, falling into the pitch-black night.

******

A faded pink batpony with a gray beard twitched at the booming sounds above him. Nevertheless, he walked down a hallway and looked over the experiments. Around him, several tanks filled with liquid, and each of them had ponies with tubes hooked up to them.  "What are the results?"

Another pony with files on hand followed him and spoke, "Sir, it's only been ten days. These tanks can only harvest so much."

"Do you not hear those outside?" The pink batpony pointed his metal fingers to the ceiling. "He'll be very angry if I don't deliver an ample amount to him before they stop us."

"Of course, Rhyme Right," The other ponies flipped through the files. "We have gathered about two tons of the source code."

"Only two!" Rhyme Right finally gave in to his frustrations.

"These bodies are a poor subject matter. We need better corpses."

"True, radiation level varies with each of them. Though maybe I should add you to the harvest list at the next base!"

"No, please, no!" The pony held up the files in a poor defense.

Another loud boom stopped them. Rhyme Right knew this was different from the other explosions as he pulled out his wings and finally rushed down the hallway. "They’re inside! Send out all the soldiers we have!"

"Yes, sir." The pony pressed a button on his earpiece before rushing to catch up. "Send everypony, now!"

******

Above, the Maredowells landed through three openings that had to be torn through.  The battalion split into three groups, each one taking a certain entrance and going down a certain path. The earth ponies pulled out their axes, the pegasi their long blades, and the unicorns their shurikens.

The earth pony soldiers were unheeded by the enemy guards. Chopping and bashing enemies left and right. They moved quickly through the first hallway until they reached the tanks.

Dos stood watch over them as they bashed open every tank. She held up her arm to her eyes and looked over a green screen. On it, she could see the other teams moving. The pegasi and unicorns quickly moved into place to grab their targets.

She pressed a few buttons before aiming it at the large screen in front of her. “Please, be right, Twist,” She whispered under her breath. The large screen opened four files and showed images of each. The first was a deer skull, the second was a dragon, the third was a fogged-up tank, and the final one was a faint image of an alicorn.

She couldn’t tell which alicorn it was but smiled either way. The mare pressed another button to download the file of the alicorn. Her sneers followed when discovering the file was too encrypted to open here. 

“Did you get it?” Cinco asked.

“Yeah, but I won’t be able to read it just yet.”

“Mad Jack isn’t going to like that--” Cinco was stopped as a loud explosion echoed above them. “Looks like the rest of the mares are ahead of us.”

“Yeah, looks like it,” Dos smiled and lowered her hand once the file had been taken, “We better get these ponies out of here and to our exit.”

The group moved toward their escape routes slowly yet aggressively to ensure the rescued ponies could keep up and remain safe. None knew what this twisted experiment was for, nor cared. They simply didn't want to lose a single again.

******

Further ahead of them, at the far end of the base, Rhyme Right watched through cameras. Fear grew more than anger now as his guards fell left and right. "Damn it, he'll send one of the Anti-Six now!" He shouted to the camera workers.

"Maybe this whole idea was wrong in the first place." Seeing all of this made the other pony finally break down. "We should have just called in the King--"

Rhyme Right jumped back as ashes splattered over the screen. The other pony screamed in agony before being consumed by fire and ash. Standing over his burnt corpse was an all too familiar ally. "You're early, Slice Kilm."

"Truthfully, you are lucky that he sends one of his Anti-Six!" Slice Kilm shouted out to the rest of the workers beside Rhyme Right. He swung his arm splashing ash remains everywhere to emphasize that point. He looked to Rhyme Right and questioned, “How far ahead are you?”

“I only have two tons of liquid to work with.” Rhyme Right walked over to a free screen and typed up a few files. The screen showed the image of a deer skull. Opening the file revealed a strange monolith made of permafrost and level monitors. “With the poor samples you keep bringing me, I can only harvest so much.”

“If I aim for large amounts, the locals will begin to notice the amount missing.” Slice Kilm sneered but walked forward. “What about the current stock we have?”

“What current stock?!” Rhyme Right questioned in defiance. “I may be the best blood scientist, but I can’t work with no resources.”

Slice Kilm laughed, “You're only second to Norman Nox. It’s just a shame he refuses to work for me.” He approached the screen and started typing.

“Don’t bring him into this--” Rhyme Right was stopped as Slice Kilm raised his hand to his neck.

“Either way, you have far more than enough resources.” Slice Kilm pulled up the camera feeds specifically to his monitor.

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean this,” He pulled up the scanners over the feeds.

Rhyme Right’s eyes went wide. “That’s the same radiation.” He looked over the intruders.

“Exactly--” Slice Kilm calmed his blackened flesh at the sound of another explosion and readied himself. This one was directly above them. He looked up to see three pegasi falling toward his position. Blasting flames out of his feet sent him upward to clash with them.

The three aimed their blades and swung at him. Unfortunately, he had an advantage as the edges of the weapons melted to a dull state upon touching his intense heat. They knew this just as much as he and fought their hardest before pulling their grappling hooks.

Slice Kilm refused to let them gain the upper hand. He punched the nearest one hard into a wall, making sure not to kill it. From that position he jumped to the next one, grabbed it in mid-air, and swung it around, breaking its arm before throwing it to the ground. In the same move, he caught sight of the final one. Pouncing forward, he crashed it through a window. This pegasus gave a far better fight. The two tumbled through a few rooms before landing in front of the earth pony group.

Dos jumped back at the sight of Slice Kilm as he heated the floor and melted the skin of the pegasus in place. “Catorce!” she shouted, knowing this one all too well. On instinct, she rushed forward swinging her axe toward Slice Kilm’s side.

Slice Kilm took the attack and lit the axe aflame with but a flinch. Dos dropped the weapon and jumped back. Her second attempt was to slice the flesh holding Catorce down.

Catorce finally broke free and got a stab in, tearing her blade through Slice Kilm’s shoulder. He sneered and melted the weapon all the same. "You stop with the stabbing already."

Dos jumped back and looked at her soldiers. “Cinco, go check on Catorce’s group and escape with them.” She looked to the other earth pony, “You get those rescued out of here.” They followed her orders without question as she turned her attention to Slice Kilm. Just in time as Slice Kilm blasted flames right at her.

Dos dropped into the split and stabbed him between the legs with the wooden remains of her weapon. Catorce herself was still fighting the pains of her tumble, yet she helped Dos up.

"I told you to stop!!" Slicee Kilm leaned back and yanked it out. "I am nothing but ash, there is nothing left to stab."

“What are we going to do, BB?” In the fear of battle, Catorce dropped the numbers and switched to the nicknames as she dragged her friend out of there.

“I don’t know NG.” Dos couldn’t help but answer her.

Seeing no way out, Catorce gritted her teeth and whispered, “Hand me all your bombs.”

“What?” Dos looked at her with shock. Even through their masks, they could sense each other's words. It was clear there was no way she could convince her otherwise. “Don’t do anything stupid.” She handed her what she had before charging into Slice Kilm, trying to punch him next.

While Dos fought Slice Kilm, Catorce tied up all the bombs. She looked at Dos and smiled. “Sorry about this?” She aimed her arm device at Dos. Pressing a few buttons a laser pointed to Dos. Catorce waited for the right moment. Seeing her chance as Slice Kilm shot flames out in all directions, she pressed the enter button. A vortex opened below Dos pulling her in.

Seeing what Catorce was planning she screamed, “No, don’t!!”

“Goodbye, Bon Bon!” Catorce smiled as the flames of Slice Kilm hit the explosives. A massive flame tore through the entire room.

Dos turned around and screamed, “Night Glider!!” The vortex closed before she could reach out, sealing her off from the base.

******
> File 5: Month 1-Part 1: Ballon Popping
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It started with several loud bangs. My head shook violently with the noise echoing around me. The volume forced my eyes open, but I couldn't process everything right away as everything was fuzzy. I just knew something had happened. I heard a shrill scream, as if something was tearing through the air.

"Get up, you two!" A female voice called out.

I looked up to see a pink blurry figure. I wanted to get a better view, a bright light above them forced my head back down. My eyes winced open and closed in sheer pain. "I can't see..." I managed to answer through the throbbing.

"Don't worry, I'm right here!" The pink mare placed her hand on my head. "I'm not leaving either of your sides."

"What..." I turned to see another pony beside me. The height alone was enough to tell me it was another stallion like me, but the longer I looked at the blurry shape the more confused I became.

"Please get up!" The pink blurry shape called out to the other stallion.

I tried to clear my sight yet the more I rubbed the more pain filled my body. "Is he okay?!" I tried to stand and get closer to the pink pony and the other stallion.

"I'm here. I'm here. It's going to be okay!" The pink pony repeated over and over in a sheer panic.

"We're here. We're right here!!" I reached out to her. I didn't know what told me to say we, I could barely remember anything before this moment. But I felt a great connection to these two and couldn't lay there while she cried.

"Take cover!" The pink pony shouted at me and the other stallion, helping us up. She sounded so familiar yet I couldn't figure out why. Everything before waking was a complete daze.

Getting into some shade, the pink mare stopped and took a deep breath. We were far enough from the sounds that she could relax. I noticed her trying to check on the other stallion for wounds and didn't stop her. "He'll be okay..." She slowly turned to me and shook away violently. "We... We need to get help..."

Her shaking denial shook me to my knees. "What happened?! Is our friend, okay?" I pegged for answers. Yet the blurry pink mare continued to stare back at me with horror and confusion.

"You... your body..." The pink mare shivered into my chest. "And him... His leg is shattered!"

"What?!" My scream only made her shake worst. "We're going to need to brace it together with something." I don't know where this knowledge came from, but I was glad to have it. "Find some wood and some cloth!"

"How can you say such a thing, in the state you're in!!" She screamed at me.

"Think about him and you!!" I screamed back. "I can't see well, that's better than his broken leg!!"

"But... But... That's not it... " She slowly turned away from me and searched the surrounding rubble.

I wish I could help her but my eyes. I winced in greater pain as it felt like thousands of needles tearing through my skull. "Hurry!"

"Okay, okay!" She moved across the area faster than I thought possible. Yet I didn't seem to be surprised by her cartoonish like speed. How much did I know of this mare before everything went fuzzy? I knew this much, from the warmth in my heart upon her return that I didn't want her leaving our side again.

"This is the best I could find." She presented them to me.

"Now, break the wood into two or three long pieces and compress them around the limb with the cloth." I leaned against the wall and attempted to watch her work, forcing my eyes to concentrate on shapes. "He's going to wince in pain at first--" I was stopped at his screams.

"Done!" The pink mare continued to shiver until I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"Okay..." I took my other hand and pressed it against my skull, about my eyes.

"I... I can't fix those!" She jumped away from me.

"What do you mean?!" I screamed at her. "I need to see!!"

"I don't know what to do?!" the pink mare cried out.

"Nevermind!!" I turned my back against the floor and rubbed my eyes for several moments. As I did, the sounds above got louder. "What's happening out there?"

"He just showed up and boom, crash and bang!" The pink mare was so sparse on details.

"Alright, what's his name?" I took a deep breath. "Why was he here--" My eyes opened their widest as blurs turned into worse shapes. The colors faded around me. Rubbing harder and harder did to little change the fact my eyes weren't getting better.

"I don't know... Something about waiting five thousand years to complete this mission. And that the Pale Mare wouldn't stand in his way now!"

I dropped my hands at the pointless effort as nothing changed. Every attempt to fix my eyes made them worse. "Damn it, I need to get to my first aid kit." Again, the words jumped ahead of my mind. I couldn't remember my own name, yet I somehow knew about having a first aid kit. Was I some kind of nurse?

"I don't know where it is. I didn't have time to keep track of it with all the explosions..." The pink mare stopped and thought about it for a moment. "Maybe... could it be by the balloons!"

"Balloons..." Something sparked in my mind at that word. An image flashed by my head of balloons being pumped with air, the smell of cheese and the sounds of party canons. Everypony was having so much fun. Two royalties dancing around with several ponies. And two other figures that meant everything to me.

The longer I thought the more the details became clear.

There was the princess, Celestia, and she was dancing with Discord. A yellow mare was flying around them dropping flowers, Fluttershy. A rainbow echoed above from Rainbow Dash. Applejack had just left to get some more apples. The posh mare and her dragon, Rarity and Spike had still yet to arrive, something about them still being very busy. Twilight sent a message to Celestia, using Discord's breath for a change, crashing it into her face. Princess Luna arrived and laughed at their embarrassing moment.

Just before everything went blurry, another figure appeared.

I reached out to the image playing in my head. The figure's species was a complete unknown to all of them. In fact, none of them appeared to have invited him. It was an orange pony in a white robe, there was an emblem on his cloak, that of changeling wings. His K shaped mask and crooked horn poked out of the hood and looked over them all.

Another party canon fired off in the memories and I turned to the position the pink pony was standing. I longed to see her face free of the blurriness. Slowly the memories filled in the gap of her face for me. I reached out as the image became clear in my mind "Pinkie Pie..."

"... yes." She slowly turned toward me. The memories faded as a shadow stood behind her. It was the figure with the crooked horn and the K shaped mask.

"No..." I shivered and jumped forward. "Pinkie Pie--" Everything stopped as bright light consumed all.

******

A bright light decintagrated the area they stood on. King Kray dropped his hand and admired his work. A giant shattering blue crystal was unveiled in place of the three ponies. "Phase 1 complete. Removed the most unpredictable one first. One down, five to go."

He smiled in victory until a stallion shook his way out of the rubble. Narrowing his eyes, his crooked horn glowed with the same spell. "Now, you are a stubborn one." He joked as the stallion continued to pull his way free.

"Pinkie... Pinkie Pie!!" I continued to scream in great pain. I fought through the pain all over my body and tried to face him. My eyes were still so blurry, but I knew where the enemy was. "Bring her back!" I screamed.

"No." He answered so boldly.

My legs kicked forward, rushing at him with all the force I could muster. "I said, bring her back--" I was stopped as the ground crashed into me.

"Oh, It seems you were in even worse shape than you thought." The figure mocked me by walking over and kicking my arm. Much to my shock it shattered to dust. "Incredible." He picked up the remains of the limb and waved it at me. "It seems you were burned to a crisp by her canons being destroyed." He turned back to his crystal creation. "Shame, you call out to her all you like but she knew everything..."

"What are you talking about--" I was stopped as he reached down and pressed his finger against my left eye. The entire left side went completely black.

"She knew from the moment you awoke why you couldn't see a damn thing." He shoved his hand over my other eye and pelted it with black dust. "You're literally nothing but ash now..."

"Stop!!" I tried to fight through the darkness only for my other hand to fall apart as well.

"It's like you've been inside a kilm. And it's all Pinkie Pie's fault." His footsteps echoed over me. "Don't worry, I am a merciful King!" I could feel his hands press against my chest. Ash echoed as his fingers dug into my heart. My insides filled with so much heat that felt like every pour was on fire. "And with my power, you shall be restored to a greater vision than you ever were before!! Yes, you shall be the first of my Anti-Six. Slice Kilm,"

******
> File 6: Month 15-Part 1: Bone House
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

High in the skies of Cloudsdale, a door flew open, and a figure wrapped in black leather entered the house. Their body was soaked in a thick red liquid as shown with each drop on the floor and each step making a squishing sound. After dragging in a strange black bag, they slammed the door shut and threw the bag against the table.

The black leathery figure shivered at the cracking sounds of the bag but paid no mind to look inside. Their strain stopped as their eyes fell upon an orange shadow suddenly sitting above it. "Oh, you're back." The leathery figure commented on the orange shadow.

They walked past the table and over several dusty books of Daring Do and Wonderbolt Academy. Most of the house was barely lit at all. Like they needed it, for this place was so memorized. Reaching the bathroom, they didn't remove the leather suit even after turning on the shower.

Instead, they walked inside the shower room and stood still as the spraying water removed the mountains of blood, bone chippings, and even the teeth of other ponies. They gave no care for the wounds they received from the enemies. Grabbing a crystal that was sitting on the shower stand, they rubbed it over their body, healing the massive gashes and torn leather.

Once their form was returned to perfection, they stepped out and turned off the water. Walking over to the table, they cared nothing about drying off and put rubber gloves over the leather gloves they were already wearing. After making sure everything was tight, they opened the bag and removed three or four body parts.

Training their eyes tightly on the job, they placed them in a giant bowl and removed the skin, muscles, and veins. Placing each bone in a finer net bag that was sitting in the sink. The process repeated until the net bag was full. After which they stopped and turned on the sink to clean off the bones and shined them up. Drying off the bones and placing them in special line boxes with the names of their owners already printed on them.

They flinched occasionally upon pulling out bones small enough to belong to children. Otherwise, they continued until the black bag was completely empty and each special line box was filled. The meat of each victim was placed in sealed containers and moved to the fridge where more flesh awaited it.

Once their business was done, they removed the rubber gloves and threw them in the trash. Just above the can, they saw the orange shadow again. It seemed to stare at them with a mix of shame and disappointment. The leathery figure raised an eyebrow and spoke again. "Don't mock me..."

Returning to the table the leathery figure tapped a large crystal sitting in the center. A magical hologram appeared with a loading screen. They sat down and tapped their fingers on their arms until the message finally came through.

"Bone Collector?" A voice echoed on the other side of the static.

"Lord Kray..." the leathery figure lowered their head in acknowledgment of their name. "I've harvested and filled all twenty boxes."

"In a single day, that's a new record..." The voice laughed in victory. "Of course, you were always beating the record in the Wonderbolts... Almost always."

The Bone Collector looked away at those words. "I was never as good as--"

"Yes, which is why you are the best... replacement for her." the voice got louder. "Speaking of which, how many wounds did you suffer this time."

"Like it matters." Bone Collector turned away. "Of course, they would fight me to their last breath!"

"Yes, but my crystals aren't permanent fixes." The voice grumbled in annoyance. "Measure your wounds carefully."

"And if I die--" They were stopped as the voice laughed back at them.

"If it were that easy, all six of you would have committed suicide long ago." The voice prattled on much to Bone Collector's brimming rage. "The Veiled Mare, Iron Sentry, Crystal Apple, Slice Kilm, Blood Bucket, and you... Bone Collector. My most loyal six soldiers."

"Yes..." They bit their teeth.

"Your bodies will rot and decay but never die. My crystals are to keep you in peak shape, nothing more." The voice hummed in a softer and softer tone. "If I have to tell you this every day then I will, but I do so enjoy your pain."

Bone Collector shivered and twitched with each word. "You're disgusting, my Lord Kray..."

"Said the one who carves up corpses for me." The voice shivered with delight and joy. "Oh, how I wish I could have heard every scream. For now, deliver the boxes to Sir Night before the weekend's end and a new group of boxes should be at your doorstep by Monday."

"I understand, my king." The leathery figure closed its eyes until the message ended. They could feel the orange shadow hovering behind them, increasing the shivering fear they were trying to hide from their king. Feeling the touch of an all too familiar orange mare on their back made their eyes shoot open.

Seeing the arms wrapped around their neck from behind only made things even harder. They gritted their teeth at the memories of two mares, a pair of parents. Another mare so close, all of them laughing together with the orange shadow and the leathery figure's original form. A big happy family...

Bone Collector slammed their hands on the table and the shadow, the memories, and the laughter vanished. "Stop mocking me!!" They got up from the table and threw the chair at a stack of Daring Do books. Seeing the face of the author shining at them in the light made things reach a peak. "You warned me. You warned all of us. And... And." The leathery figure turned back to the orange shadow as it faded away completely. "And she paid the price."

Their eyes fell on the orange shadow fading away. With that ghost gone, Bone Collector could rest, but all they wanted to do was grimace, grumble, and panic at their own shame. "I have to be loyal to him. After all, I'm the one who trusted him."

******
> File 7: Month 14-Part 1: The Nightmares
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fourteen months after Canterlot fell, pain and agony spread in all directions. The evils of the great tyrant covered everything except for the legendary Everfree forest. This was why Strawberry Sunrise chose this place as the perfect hiding spot away from the problems plaguing Equestria. The pegasus was a farmer by trade and adored her strawberries above all else.

She didn't care about the outside world and upon finding the remains of a zebra home she began renovating. With weeks of hiding out here, she had made this place into a perfect home. While she was occasionally on edge with the cockatrices, she was at least glad to not be in the view of the tyrant.

That is until a new guess stepped into the Everfree Forest. Arriving in a twisted chariot of magic and crystals, was a nearly naked white mare covered in black veils and roman style helmet. As she stepped off the chariot, Strawberry watched from the shadows of the trees.

The pegasus was so perplexed by the sparse attire of the mare. However, she kept a blade at her guard when seeing the emblem of King Kray between the chest of the veiled mare and emblazed over her cutie mark like a twisted branding. It was truly a cold and cruel sight to see.

Veiled Mare held out her arm and smoked covered warriors exited on the train as well. They followed her directions without a word and swarmed off and out of sight. The mare herself then walked deeper into the forest and toward the abandoned zebra house that turned into a farm.

Strawberry hid herself the best she could. While she didn't want anything to happen to her precious fruits, she couldn't let herself be killed. Bidding her time and hoping this mare would leave. Instead, Veiled Mare reached down and picked up one fruit. Seeing her feast on the stock she had, sickened Strawberry to her core.

Veiled Mare left a single berry core and entered deep into the farm. Strawberry couldn't take it anymore as she hopped out from the tree and ran up behind her. She hoped the smoke soldiers were far enough away, but she had no idea about the truth. Seeing Veiled Mare reach the center of the stock made things worse. Her eyes glaring as the enemy spotted a strange sight that Strawberry wanted to keep private.

"Stop!" Strawberry screamed as Veiled Mare reached a great zap apple tree. "Don't you dare touch her!!" She rushed in and swung her sword, only for Veiled Mare to dodge under it. She turned her blade downward and attempted to stab her, this time Veiled Mare danced out of the way.

Swinging left and right at her fastest meant nothing at all, as Veiled Mare evaded every advance. The pegasus tried to take command in the sky, but even from up there, she could do nothing more than miss every stab, slash, and thrust.

Living in the Everfree Forest had kept her from losing her magic and the ability to fly. Yet that wasn't even enough as Veiled Mare didn't retaliate once. The enemy chose to simply move around the zap apple tree rather than being pushed back.

Every time Strawberry tried to redirect her, Veiled Mare would just jump clear over to the other side of the tree only for the cycle to continue again and again until she was out of energy. Reaching her limit, Strawberry crashed her sword down like a crutch. "Just... leave..." She exhaled heavily.

Veiled Mare stopped but didn't even face the pegasus. Instead, she straightened her stance and snapped her fingers. Without warning, the smoke soldiers reappeared out of nowhere. They wrapped around Strawberry and forced her to the ground. She tried to whistle for help, but the timberwolves she had been raising were presented to her feet, ripped apart.

Her eyes widened at the corpses, as she didn't even hear them yelp or scream early. Half assuming, they were hiding just like her, while she was watching Veiled Mare and the farm. The truth was far more wrong as the smokey ghosts were killing off all her defenses.

Strawberry's ears flicked at the sound of a branch breaking. Her eyes flinched to Veiled Mare taking one of the zap apples. "No, stop!! Those are not for--" She was shoved harder into the ground. "Those are... one of the last of the zap apple trees..."

"But this isn't just some ordinary zap apple tree..." Veiled Mare finally answered her with the raspiest voice. "I'm sorry... but I know the difference." She cracked open the core and revealed diamond-shaped seeds. "These are Diamond Zap Apples!" Leaning down to Strawberry and unveiling her throat, she showed the pegasus the thousands of shredded tissue. "They were bred by an alicorn, Emerald Teal, over ten thousand years ago... And as such have unique healing potential."

"How do you know that?" She winced as Veiled Mare took a bite.

"Because..." Her voice strained as blood poured forth. "This host had a beloved pony that once raised zap apples. As such, the mare had intense knowledge... on the differences between the two... And trust my host with that." She placed her other hand on the emblem of the tyrant. It glowed and stopped the bleeding.

The rasping in her voice faded ever so slightly until full sentences could form. Her body stood with more regal and elegance. "This body is not the best, nor is our King's body." Stepping forward, she gestured the smoke soldiers to move the timberwolves' bodies and any other dead they could toward the tree. "Just look how this tree reacts to death and decay." Pointing Strawberry's face toward the scene, she admired them pouring the blood over the tree. It twisting its rainbow color into variations of white, gray, and black.

"Is that all you are after..." Strawberry's eyes wandered over her other fruits. "Please, don't harm my fruits or the other trees." Tears pooled in her eyes. "You only need one tree, right?"

"No..." Veiled Mare's voice cracked and creased as the spell of the emblem faded just as quickly as it appeared. "According to Sir Night... We need three diamond zap apple trees, soaking in the blood of the dead. Once they had matured in that damned liquid the fruit produced shall serve a far greater purpose." She kneeled down in front of Strawberry. "And you are going to help us find those other two."

"No--" Strawberry was stopped as Veiled Mare climbed on top her.

Taking another bite of the zap apple in her hand to get better strength, the evil mare turned Strawberry over. "Oh yes, you will."

"Stop!" Strawberry tried to fight it as Veiled Mare's hand reached her face. "I won't speak a word--"

"Speaking won't be needed at all." Veiled Mare leaned in and whispered into her ear. "No, you'll be screaming every possible detail..."

With that, the pegasus's eyes blackened and her breath got so much worse. She started to struggle so violently that the thrashing tore up her flesh against the ground. She screamed so hard that her cheeks ripped open and coughed up blood. The pegasus hyperventilated, in between each scream, so out of control that her lungs could barely keep up. Her vocal cords cracked and her throat stretched from the force. Tears poured from her eyes and the rest of her body convulsed.

******
> File 8: Month 2-Part 2: Things Deepen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deep within the black crystal, crass and disgusting moans echoed from corpses stumbling up the light house. Flash knocked the boxes over the door and pulled Timber out from under the machine. The two grabbed what food they could carry and ran over to the window. Breaking it, they shot out a rope and used it to cross over to another building, several blocks away, hoping for safety.

The two landed and yanked the rope off to ensure they couldn't be followed. After that, they dropped to the floor and took a moment to catch their breath. "What was that?" Timber gasped.

"I don't know. The dead just started moving." Flash trained his eyes on the next entrance down in case this building wasn't safe either.

"I mean, who were you talking to?" Timber demanded.

"No one." Flash didn't know how to even word what he saw. Was the pale mare trying to warn them or was she responsible for the dead rising? He couldn't be sure, so he kept that information to himself and changed the subject. "With the light house occupied and our airship gone, we need to reach the radio towers instead."

"But that's at the center of the city." Timber stood up and tightened up their food supply. "Where did we land anyway?"

"In the beauty district." Flash pointed to a sign. "Rarity Belle and the Best Dresses in Canterlot."

"Yeah," Timber agreed, "She's one of the six great heroes."

"They went missing the same day this hell was unleashed. All six of them, along with the princesses." Flash dropped his eyes away from the decay and rot of the sign. "This must be one of her buildings."

Timber walked over to the other window of the building. "Okay, we can search for her while finding safety--" He stopped at the terrifying sight. "What the fuck?"

"Half the building is gone." Flash confirmed his fears at the sight of it. He covered his mouth at the several blood stains and dead unicorns and earth ponies at the bottom. "She's might be..."

"We can't give up hope!" Timber tried to hide his fear away. "We will find all six of them."

Their ears picked up the sounds of footsteps below in the rubble. "Too fast to be one of those undead."

"Yeah..." Timber held up his hand back to the lighthouse. "Wait, wasn't there fast movement coming from that building too." He lowered his finger. "And the vents from there connect to here."

"Which means whoever hid all that food up there might have left the same direction we did." Flash smiled and tightened the grip on his spear. "Just mere moments from us."

"Maybe!" Timber reached into the bag and pulled out another rope. Dropping it down to the fourth floor. The sounds of the rushing footsteps were louder in here. It sounded like two figures moving back and forth.

The two soldiers moved slowly to the source, hoping not to startle them. The footsteps led to a door covered in thick bolts. "Do you think you got to the other side of it?" Flash whispered.

"Maybe..." Timber put the torch down and pulled out some tools.

Flash narrowed his eyes on the vent above them. The footsteps got louder as if they knew they were there. "Careful, we have to convince them we aren't a threat." His eyes narrowed on a pocket for letters at the lower center of the door. "Hold on, I think this was originally a safe room."

He leaned down and opened the pocket. The pegasus couldn’t see much more in the room as it was covered in darkness. However, he did spot a small glow moving across the room at the same speed as the footsteps. No, these were the source of the footsteps, and the glow slowly revealed the shape of a creature. "Is that a dragon..." He stopped the creature and passed by another figure in a chair. His eyes froze at an all too familiar mane, matching the sign outside. "We need to get in there now!"

Timber leaned back in defeat. "This door's too tight."

"Then we need to break it open." Flash banged his spear against it.

""What are you doing?" Timber tried to push him away.

"Rarity is inside there, right now with another..." Flash gave another look. "A dragon." He stopped at the glowing stopped in place. The creature noticed him and held tightly to something. "He's holding a glowing object and some sort of long suitcase."

"We'll need a crowbar or a pipe." Timber trained his bow and leaned against the door. "I'll keep listening, you go find one."

Flash ran off through another doorway and searched the rubble. It was strange he thought to himself. She couldn’t have been the one with the footsteps in the vent. The mare wasn't moving at all, wasn't breathing. He waved his head back and forth in denial.

The soldier jumped back as the rubble started to move. The slow moan of a corpse reached out for him. Seeing the broken arm and torn flesh was enough for him to not hesitate. Swinging by, he chopped off the arm and stomped into the ground. The moaning continued and he stabbed the corpse three times until it stopped.

"What was that?" Timber called out.

"The undead reached here too."

"Great..." the earth pony grumbled.

Pulling back a massive rock that was holding the corpse, Flash narrowed his eyes at a bright shine. "I... I think I found a key."

"Are you sure it’s the right key.” Timber yelled back.

" We got to try something.” Flash picked it up along with the silver cloth it was tied to. Racing back to round, he stopped as another corpse moved towards them. Timber took down this one with an arrow. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, captain." Timber walked over and pulled the arrow out of the head. He made sure it stayed down by smashing the skull into the ground, splattering it. "Still strong enough to do that."

"Nevermind that, we got to help Rarity." Flash rushed over to the bolted door and the key fit easily. They entered the small room and found the glowing and the footsteps had fled back into the vents. However, the figure that appeared to look like Rarity was still in the room. The two moved slowly over and placed their hands on the chair.

The mane fell off and revealed the face of a mannequin. Worn and tattered clothes were draped over it to give the appearance of life. There was make up and dried lipstick giving a close proximity to Rarity. Neither of them could believe what they were seeing.

"What sick shit is this?!" Timber backed away in shock.

"I don't know... Where is the glowing--"

"So this is what that dragon has been hiding from me!" A new voice spoke up from behind them.

The eyes of both soldiers widened and they raced around only to be thrown back by a magical scream echoing from a stitched covered mouth. A lone mare covered in veils approached them from behind as they fell to the ground in pain.

"Who... are... you?" Flash tried to demand, but his jaw had no strength at all. His eyes got heavier and his mind dazed and dulled. He collapsed to the ground and struggled to breathe.

The emblem of a changeling was emblazed upon her cutie mark. "You'll know my name soon enough. In fact, you will all come to love and praise it." With that final phrase, the blackness of sleep claimed both soldiers. The last thing Flash saw was the dragon racing behind this Veiled Mare and cowarding in fear.
> File 9: Month 17-Part 2: Bad Images
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A purple batpony stallion and a white unicorn mare danced around the ballroom to soft music. The two held tightly to each other simply enjoying the moment, the music, and each other's scent.

A pleasing mix of sweet chalk, red lilies, bluegrass, and cool rum swung around them in their movement. The two swung around the place with it being nearly empty. They could have the whole place to themselves for as long as possible.

After a few more swings the two came to a stop. The mare leaned into the stallion's shoulder. Her thick glasses did little to hide her beauty from him as she giggled when his finely combed beard brushed against her nose. "Do you miss this?" She questioned.

"Of course, every minute of it..." The stallion word's drifted as he leaned his mouth into hers. "I will always desire you, Moondancer."

She hummed at the mention of her name but pulled back from his kiss. "As I desire you, Jack. But it seems our time is up."

"What...?" He could barely compute her words as a loud booming flew through his ears. The ballroom grew dark. Seeing this he gripped tighter to her. "I don't want this to end."

"But I have to go..." Her voice drifted as her image shifted back and forth before fading from sight.

The loud booming returned. Sounding as if it was right above him the echoes were like engines firing. He looked in all directions for the source as the ballroom darkened to pitch black.

The dream was ending.

******

In the skies above, distorted forms of zombified pegasi soldiers flew by with watchful eyes. Their bold golden armor was the only other color in the sky outside of the grayish-brown as the Sun and Moon locked in a twisted eclipse refused to let any other color fill the sky. It had been this way for far too long and the only hope that came for the ones that once looked up was when the rain clouds covered the horrible sight.

Deep within a tavern crashing and splashing could be heard as a purple batpony fell back, laughter covering his lips. He wore a shredded brown robe under a maroon blazer only keeping his right arm out to hold his drink, keeping the rest of himself clean tightly to the warmth of his old clothing. The right hand itself also had a thick and long glove held over just as tight. The tavern was mostly empty outside of him and a cloaked warrior.

"Damn it, that loud noise broke the connection!" The batpony continued to drink.

"Are you sure it wasn't the cider instead?" The cloak warrior simply padded him on the back and refused every drink the batpony offered.

“Come on, Stone. It’s rude to let a pony drink alone.” The batpony gulped down another.

“Oro, you are never alone, Jack. As long as your connection to her is still strong.” The warrior pushed the offer away again. “Besides I’ve already had enough.” His lies were easy for the batpony to see.

“I would rather hold those hips directly rather than through the dreamscape.” Jack swiped at his hand and turned away. He took another drink and let the smooth malt cider take his pain away. There wasn’t much else they could do in this new world.

Jack laughed at the thought, new world. He didn’t care at all about the hell Equestria was going through anymore. Just wishing it would let him enjoy at least some happiness.

Jack’s ears lifted at the sounds of footsteps approaching the tavern. “They found us again?”

Stone reached for a rusted and cracked katana yet refused to remove it from its sheath. “Flash must be getting desperate.”

Jack used the rim of the cider to lift his head before breaking the glass enough to use it as a weapon. “Fucking jackass can’t let his former friend get some sleep.” The two turned toward the door.

“Wait, that…”

A blue earth pony in a fine suit and small glasses walked in. “There you two are.” He jumped out of the way from the broken glass as Jack chucked it.

“Damn it, Noteworthy. You need to be more careful. Stone nearly chopped you in half.” Jack was the only one laughing as the others knew Stone was nowhere near that aggressive, best shown by how Jack had already thrown the bottle before even seeing who it was.

“You are the ones that need to be more careful after blowing up the King’s Third Watch Tower!”

“That was his idea, “ Stone pointed to Jack.

“What? It was blocking my view of the Sun.” Jack poured another drink and raised it to the sky.

“Liar,” Noteworthy facepalmed while walking over. “The Sun has been blocked out since Canterlot fell!”

“Fine, it was blocking my view of the Moon!” Jack laughed harder knowing full well the Moon had been locked into place for just as long.

“I told him it was a bad idea.”

“Which is why I’m here.” Noteworthy stopped at the bar and placed down some cuffs. “Make this easy.”

“You’re handing me over to Flash?!” Jack jumped back and lifted his left arm in the robe, revealing a massive weapon over the arm, aiming it at Noteworthy in defiance.

“Iron Sentry just wants to have a talk.”

Jack fired the cannon, missing Noteworthy, and destroying part of the bar. "You can tell Flash Sentry that I'm not interested!" The batpony emphizered his desire by refusing to acknowledge the soldier's new title.

"I swear," the earth pony rubbed his eyes. "I'm the only one still trying to keep order around here!" He held up his hands in a surrendering motion. "Just calm down and come with me. We don't want things to go down like they did on the permafrost." His words struck right through Jack’s chest. "And since Mad Jack's army fell last month, there is only so much fighting that can be done."

“What's the plan?” Stone stood ready.

“I turn to in and a friend of mine breaks you out during transport.”

“Won’t that make things worse?”

“It’s either that or facing Iron Sentry's firing squad.” Noteworthy moved the cuffs over Jack's hands only to stop halfway.

Jack leaned over with a cruel smile at Noteworthy being slowed by the massive weapon. “What? Haven’t got enough foreplay in since you're stallion left you.” He was stopped as Noteworthy elbowed him in the gut.

“Sorry, your arm is not as big as his,” Noteworthy finally gave a laugh of his own.

“Oh, maybe someday I’ll meet this former lover of yours and ask him.” Jack shook the chains and walked closer, “I'll ask him how long it took him to pop that little ass of yours.”

“Said the stallion who hasn't fucked anything from mare to stallion to random toy in over two years.” Noteworthy pushed back.

“Okay, please stop with the sex jokes around me.” Stone pushed the two away before they killed each other.

“Fine.” Jack sat back down and got another drink.

Noteworthy pulled out a note, “Now, this is the friend. He’ll get you to safety.”

Jack took the picture and stuck it in his coat. Noteworthy looked over to Stone and pointed to the rusted katana. “You're going to need to hand that to me.”

“No,” Stone took a tight grip on the hilt yet refused to lift it from its sheath. “This stays with me.”

Noteworthy's eyes narrowed before giving up. "Fine, but if they break that stick, it's on you." He pulled out cuffs for Stone as well. "Now let's get moving, Dr. Nox--" He was stopped as the doors exploded.

Smoke spread everywhere as their ears rang from the blast. Soldiers ran inside and quickly surrounded them. "Knock, knock." A voice called out to them.

"Looks like leaving might not be an option anymore." Jack looked away in shame as a gray earth pony in spiked armor walked toward them. Her mane was once just as all gray as her fur now neon green and spiked up over the left side of her face where severe burns still stood.

"Damn it," Noteworthy whispered as the earth pony walked over to him. He bowed to her and answered, "Lieutenant Limestone. I was told that I would be the one to bring the two to Iron Sentry's airship--" He was caught off guard as Limestone punched him in the gut. The hit knocked him clear to the other side of the room.

"Plans have been changed and the monolith has been found. We can't take the chances with these two. I've been ordered to give them to the zombified corp." Her soldiers charged in.

Jack knocked back the soldiers as they tackled him. He placed his hand over the metal gun over his other arm, making it glow. He lifted and aimed at Limestone. "Stand down, Limestone, I don't wish to see another pie sister fall in this war." His hesitation, laughter, and drunkenness were gone as if they were never there in the first place.

Stone huffed and gripped tightened on his rusted katana. He stood beside Jack and echoed his words. "Your sister would have given us a five-minute running start."

"Yeah, Pinkie was always far more merciful than me. I still don't know where the King vanished her to." She held up her shotgun and was ready for a fight. "And, frankly I don't fucking care." She charged in as Jack's weapon filled the room with light.

******