Epilogue

It had slept for so long. For millennia, it had remained in a deep, quiet sleep, undisturbed as the world continued without it. The passage of time meant little, but that had ended as the balance of the world shifted violently. Slowly, a set of serpentine eyes opened to the darkness of its prison. An intake of breath signaled the creature's awakening. It peered ahead at the massive stone slab that served as the door to its cell.

The hiss of steel broke the silence as it brought a blade to bear, and with a mighty swing, it swung its weapon at the slab. Before the weapon could connect, a sigil appeared on the slab, and the magic rebounded the blade back at its wielder. The creature hissed in pain and in rage as it was flung backwards. It collected itself and tried once more to break through the sigil with no more luck.

The creature settled down as it considered its options. Clearly, the magic that bound it still held, and it would not be breaking out by force any time soon. The creature then considered that if force would not work, subtlety would have to be its next option. Large incisors dripped venom as the creature smiled wickedly. It might have been imprisoned, but that did not mean it was completely bound. It could feel the living souls that surrounded its prison, so it knew that the ponies still lived and thrived in the world. If the ponies still existed, then it would find its way out.

The creature reveled in the thought of once again bringing about the plague to the world.

-0-

Outside of Trottingham, a sole wagon approached its outskirts. The mare pulling the wagon could only smile softly as she imagined the reception she would receive. For a certain showmare, she was ready to get back on stage to entertain the masses after her jaunt in a realm of darkness. For surely, Trottingham would be the start of her grand return to fame.

She was unaware of how the hands of fate were guiding her to her ultimate destiny.