A/N: Some of you might start to call out Mary Sue around chapter 6. If you enjoyed the story before that point then just keep reading to the end because there is a twist that changes everything. Obviously I don’t own any of the official MLP:FIM characters or content. Those all belong to Hasbro/Studio B. Also, the font that I use in chapter four is SS Ancient Hylian. Thanks to Sarinilli for that font and if you want it as well just go to his DA page. This is my first attempt and depending on the reaction I might not do another. I personally don’t think it’s that good but I guess that I’ll find out.

A great stallion once said “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.” Sometime I look back and think about that quote and I wonder if it may have changed this whole mess. Ah well, if I’ve realized anything after watching Doctor Whooves it’s that you can’t change the past... well unless someone random pony with a magic box lets you.

I’m sorry. Where are my manners? Here I am going off on a rant about something you probably don’t even understand and there you are just being a polite little guest, not even asking questions. Well I’ll tell you what, for your patience you get a special reward. I’m going to tell you the wonderful story of how all of this that you see before you came to be. I’m going to tell you the story of Abaddon.

Now I know this is a cliché but this story really does start off on a day like every other day. Although, I suppose Pinkie doesn’t throw parties every day but still it’s pretty normal if you know Pinkie at all. It was a fun little get-together at Sugarcube Corner, nothing huge but not too small either. Of course I was being my usual self; the wallflower. See, I was a pretty awkward colt. I had a few close friends, Pinkie being one of them, and I spent most of my time on the Ponynet or watching my latest rental from a certain video store on Soresaddle Street. My job, like my life, wasn’t great and involved a lot of heavy lifting, no gratitude, and customers constantly complaining to me about something that I couldn’t possibly be responsible for. I owned and operated a moving company in Ponyville. The good thing about working at “Stow and Go Express” was that I only had to work when people come and asked me to help. The worst thing was that there wasn’t much money to be made from it.

Anyway, I’m probably boring you with these useless facts about me, back to the party. It was fun, gummy was bathing in the punch, ponies were dancing. Oh yeah, almost forgot, but it was my birthday party.

“Get up you Depressy Bessy! You’re ruining your own party!” Pinkie yelled as she burst out of seemingly nowhere.

“No, I’m happy right here.” That wasn’t true but I just know she wants me to dance. I don’t dance. Well, it’s more can’t than don’t but whatever.

“How can you be at your own party and not want to dance, or play pin the tail on the pony, or have fun with all of your friends? That’s crazy!”

“Pinkie I’m alright, really. Besides you know I don’t dance. And I don’t know most of the people here, you’re the one who invited everypony, remember?” I honestly don’t think she remembered that.

“What are you talking about? All of your friends are here. Look, there’s Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Da-“

“Those are your friends Pinkie.” I said, cutting her off because I knew she was going to name every single pony at the party.

“Fine, be that way but it’s time to blow out your birthday candles, so you have to get up anyway.” She had me beat.

Pinkie shut off the lights and everypony gathered around the table and sang to me as I waited for the cake. It was sort of weird having a bunch of ponies that I didn’t know singing to me on my birthday but my friends were there so I guess it wasn’t too bad. These were the ponies I grew up with after all; Big Mac, Berry Punch and Chuck. Chuck was my kitty. He was, hmmm how do I put this... he was... adowable. More precious than Fluttershy hugging bunnies in field of made of cuteness. Now you may be thinking “What kinda name is Chuck for a kitty? You must be some kinda stupid, comin’ up with a name like Chuck.” My answer to that: Shut Up.

After I blow out the candles and everyone got their cake, Big Mac decided it was time to break out the special drinks he had brought, his own personal stash of cider. Normally a stash this large could keep all of Ponyville inebriated for a week straight. Unfortunately for Ponyville or maybe it’s a good thing, Big Mac could easily drink for ten ponies and Berry could easily drink for fifteen Big Mac’s. When the two were together it was almost guaranteed that everyone around them was going to regret letting them drink. Not me though, I love seeing the two of them drunk. It’s hilarious, it’s usually harmless and more than that it’s the only time that the two would actually admit that they liked each other.

Luckily for them, by the time they got to that point in their drinking most of the guests had either cleared out or passed out. I wasn’t joking about the size of his personal stash, by the way. It left me alone to clean up after my own birthday. Again. It also gave me some time to myself. Again.

“Well, Big Mac, another year. Nothing’s really changed and I doubt it will anytime soon but I suppose I might as well get used to it.” I stated, knowing full well that Big Mac was too wrapped up in Berry to even hear me and too drunk to remember anything he might’ve heard. I don’t know why I said any of it out loud but I do that pretty often so I don’t bother questioning it anymore.

“Sort of makes you wonder though. There has gotta be something I’m doing wrong with my life. Maybe I just need a marefriend or maybe I need a change of scenery. Yeah, I should go on a trip. That might make thi- OH BUCK! BIG MAC! BERRY! NOT IN THE DAMNED LIVING ROOM!”

Eeyup. Just another boring day.

“Hey, were you serious ‘bout goin’ on that trip?”

“How the hell can you even remember what happened last night?” I asked Big Mac as he stared at me from the couch in my bedroom. It was a pretty dingy, little room in a pretty dingy, little house in a pretty dingy, little part of Ponyville but it was all I could afford. Besides it makes a decent place for me and Big Mac to hang out.

“Ah wasn’t that drunk.”

“Any other pony would have gone blind if they had as much as you did. Do you even remember what you and Berry did last night?” At the mention of Berry Punch, Big Mac blushes furiously and just stares at the ground. I wait for him to answer but just continues to stare like the carpet is the most interesting thing in the world right now.

“Huhh... nevermind that. I haven’t really given much thought to the trip. I might go if I don’t get much work.”

“Go. You been real depressin’ lately.”

“Am I ruining your time with Berry?” Suddenly the carpet becomes interesting again. “Big Mac you really have to ask her out or something. This is getting to be really annoying. We can’t even hang out without you clamming up.”

“...”

“Alright, whatever. What do you mean I’ve been real depressing. I’m not that sad. Am I?”

“You definitely seem sad tuh me.”

“Hmmm.... Maybe I’ll go. I need to find a fun place to go first.”

“What about the beach” Big Mac suggests.

“Nah. I hate the beach. Too many people and too much sand. I want to go somewhere quiet and secluded.

“Maybe camping?”

“That could be alright.” I made a mental note to go check out books on camping sites around Ponyville from Twilight’s library.

“Well, whatever you decide, make it quick. You definitely need tuh get away. Anyway, I’ll see ya later. AJ’s expectin’ me back to help with the farm.”

“Yeah, I have to go and help some rich pony in town move in to their new house. See ya.”

This day couldn’t possibly have gotten any worse. The customer, some snooty mare from Canterlot who randomly decided to settle in the country, was blaming me for all of her broken furniture, as if she hadn’t ruined the furniture herself. Then my dolly broke. How was I supposed to move all of that furniture without a dolly? Then she had the gall to sit there, drinking her fancy drinks and complain about how I was moving too slowly.

“Meow.” Chuck purred at me as I walked in my front door.

“Well, I guess it isn’t all bad.” I say to myself in response as Chuck walks up to me with something in his mouth.

“What’s that?” I ask him without even stopping to think that I’m talking to a cat.

Chuck spits the object on the floor and I realize it almost instantly, a picture of my father and me on our annual fishing trip to the Everfree River. In, hindsight going anywhere near a place with Everfree in the name was a bad idea but when you’re having fun with your father, danger isn’t the first thing on your mind. If it had been he would have still been alive and I might still be happy.

That wasn’t why Chuck brought out my picture though. He realized that the last time I was really happy was when me and my father went on these fishing trips.

“You know what? Buck it. I’m going on this trip.”

“Meow”

“Well I’m off to the library I guess. Thanks Chuck.”

“Meow”

“Yeah you’re right. It’s late and I’m tired, I’m gonna go to bed.”

It was still early the next morning when I set out for the library. I was worried that Twilight might not be awake. At my mention of Twilight my nerves kicked in and I started worrying about everything else as well.

“Do I knock on the door? I mean most businesses you just walk right in. This is her house though. What if she has guests? I wouldn’t want to bother them. But it is open hours for the library right now so I should be allowed to go in no matter what, right? Oh Celestia, what if she tries to have a conversation with me? I’m no good at talking to fillies. Or colts. Or anypony, for that matter. Sweet Luna Almighty, what if I smell bad? Do I smell bad?”

Sniff sniff

“Oh no, I don’t smell anything. Ponies should smell like something, shouldn’t they? OhCelestia’sbeardthere’sthedoorwhatdoidowhatdoidowhatdoido?!”

Before I even realize what’s going on, I’ve knocked on the door. And before I even realize what happened next I said this:

“OH GOOD MORNING TWILIGHT. MY YOU LOOK PRETTY TODAY?”

It was Spike. Buck.

“Oh ummmm... Hey there. You know I’m not Twilight right?”

“I... uhhhhh... I... yeeeeaaaahh... Sorry about that I sort of spoke without thinking.”

“I’ll say. My you look pretty today. You’re not her grandcolt you know.”

“Alright, I get it. No need to insult me.”

“Also, it sounded like you were asking her a question. Does she look pretty today or doesn’t she?”

“Spike please just drop it. I’m here for a book.”

“Sure thing... Romeo.” Spike chuckled under his breath as he walked away. Then Twilight walked down the stairs and all of

my nerves started going crazy again.

“Spike what’s going on down here? Oh a guest.” Twilight said as she walked reached the bottom of the stairs and walked over to me.”

“Oh... ummmm... hello?” Damn, that was way to quiet. DAMN, that was a question again.

“Hey? Do you need something or...?”

“Oh yeah, I was planning camping trip but, ummm, I don’t know the surrounding area all that well.”

“Okay. So what does that have to do with me?”

“Oh right. I need a book about camping sites around Ponyville.”

“Oh okay, you should have just said that right away.” She wanders off for a few minutes and comes back with a large green book. “There you go.”

“Oh thanks...” After she hands me the book I just stand and stare at her for a few seconds.

“Was there something else you needed?”

“Oh... umm... No, I’ll just get out of your flank MANE, I totally said mane... I’m leaving now.” I slammed the door closed behind me and ran faster than I ever have in my life.

“Well, that was weird.”Twilight said to Spike.

“He called you pretty before you got here.”

“Awwww, that’s sweet of him. Too bad he didn’t say it to my face; I would’ve appreciated it more than that flank comment.”

After recovering from my encounter with Twilight I went home and tried to decide where to go.

“Meow.”

“No, the book says that place is really popular. I want seclusion. Hmmm... Maybe this one. It seems alright.”

“Meow.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Meow.”

“Hmmmm... Not bad. It’s secluded, lots of forests to explore, lake to swim in, caves to explore, not too far from Ponyville. Not

a very popular campground for some reason... It’s perfect.” Then I realized something. “We’re gonna need to find you a sitter, Chuck.”

“Meow.”

“Yeah right. I’m not leaving you here alone. Not after last time.”

“Meow.”

“I don’t care if it was an accident Chuck. You’re not staying here alone ever again. Now, you’re going to stay with Berry and that’s final.”

“Meow.”

“That’s a good point. Big Mac it is.”

After dropping off Chuck at Sweet Apple Acres I went home to pack my bags and was off to the forest. It’s sort of weird but the forest didn’t even have a name. No one bothered to name the forest. I’m not sure if it was just laziness or that whoever comes up with names for places couldn’t think of one when they found the forest. Maybe whoever discovered it just decided to call it the forest, no capital letters or anything, just the forest.

It doesn’t really matter though. I’m all packed, got my fishing rod, hiking boots, supplies and tent. I’m really getting excited for this. This is probably the most excited I’ve been for anything in the past few years. Well, except for when they announced the new Doctor Who series but really what can compete with that.

“Well, I’m off.” Then I remember that Chuck isn’t here.

It’s a pretty long trip, at least two days of walking, not including rest stops. It’s also a bit sad that no one is here to see me off. Though, to be honest, the entire reason I’m going is to get away from everypony and everything so it sort of makes sense that no one is here. Especially after that talk I had with Twilight. Still it’s a bit lonely. At least it was a bit lonely until I ran into her.

“Ow,” the purple mare on the ground in front of me said.

“Oh... umm... sorry Twilight I wasn’t watching where I was going.” I meant ran into her literally of course.

“No problem” She said, rubbing her rump. I saw what she was doing and tried to look anywhere but at her. She noticed my odd reaction and instantly stopped rubbing.

“...”

“...”

“Soooo... I see you’re all packed and ready to go.” I breathe a sigh of relief as she starts the conversation again.

“Ummm... yeah. Thanks for the book, by the way.”

“Oh it was no trouble. Do you have it with you by any chance? I’d like to put it back in case somepony else needs it.” See this is where the conversation got awkward again. I gave the book to Big Mac because I was too terrified to speak to Twilight again.

“I, uhhhhh... gave it to Big Mac to give it to you later.”

“Oh.” I think she guessed my reason behind doing that. Have I mentioned lately how much I suck at talking to other living creatures, other than cats of course. “That’s alright. I’m sure Applejack will bring it back. So which campsite did you choose?”

“A place just called the forest. I’ve never heard of it before but it sounded like a fun place to camp.”

“Hmmm...”

“What?”

“I’ve read that book before...” of course she had, “...and I don’t remember any entry on a place called the forest.”

“Well, it was only a one page entry and it was sort of stuffed right at the very end of the book. I mean even the acknowledgements and citations page came before this entry.”

“That’s weird. I’ll have to take a look at it when Applejack returns it.”

“Alright, well I have to get going Twilight. I have a long trip ahead of me.”

“Oh, right. Sorry for keeping you. Have a great time.”

Two days later I was there. At least, I was pretty sure I was there. There weren’t any signs or anything but I’m not that bad at following direction so I had to be there. To be honest though, I didn’t really care whether this was the forest or not, as long as I had the place to myself then I was happy. Unfortunately for me the world always has other plans.

By the time I set up camp on the first day it was already late. The only thing that I got to do that day was start a fire and sit around it until I decided it was time to get to sleep. So far I didn’t feel any happier but it was only the first day so I was still pretty hopeful that would change.

The second day came and went and still nothing had changed. I even went fishing but that just reminded me of my dad. I also started to think about Chuck. Was Big Mac taking good care of him? I trust Big Mac but he does have a little sister. Applebloom probably isn’t that great with small animals either.

“Well that just ruined this day.” I thought out loud.

I ignored that thought and kept exploring the forest. It really was a beautiful place. Wildlife wandered the forest freely. Some of them were too scared to come up to me but squirrels and rabbits would always come wandering through my camp at the smell of food. You could hear wolves at night as well. It was really a beautiful place.

The trees were a sight to behold too. Tall as a Manehattan skyscraper, some were probably taller than that. You could just tell that the lumberponies had left this forest entirely untouched. In fact the entire forest seemed like it hadn’t seen any ponies there in quite a while.

I didn’t think about that too much though and when the day was coming to an end, I just started a fire and relaxed until I was tired.

The next day I woke up very late. Although I suppose the entire point of going on vacation was so that I didn’t have to worry about something like being late. Still a large portion of my day was lost and I would have to cut back on the things I was going to do today.

Fishing was taken off of my list, as well as forest exploration. I thought about what else there was to do in the forest and remembered the book had said there were caves to explore along a cliff side. So I took out my map, packed some food and went off to find the caves.

This is where everything started to go wrong. The forest began to go crazy. First, the forest seemed to get much darker as I walked towards the caves. I just dismissed it as a storm and kept going. Then the woodland creatures began running away in every direction. They weren’t running from me though, which I thought was very strange. Again I dismiss it as nothing and move on. Finally, the trees all started to shake and sway and were all making huge loud noises. They were almost screaming

in, what sounded to me like pain and fear.

At this point I decided that I was being crazy.

“Trees can’t scream, the animals are just frightened of the storm and I’m going to be absolutely fine.” Even though I said that, I couldn’t help but be frightened. I kept on walking though and the trees kept screaming and the animals kept fleeing.

Now the real terror started. The storm intensified. Huge booms and flashes of raw electricity were going off all around me as a torrential rain knocked me senseless. My map flew away in the winds and I just started to run. I was driving myself mad with fear. I had no idea where I was going and no matter what incredibly loud sounds the storm decided to throw at me, the screaming of the trees was always louder. I kept telling myself I was going to be okay but my body wouldn’t listen. I just ran. I ran until it happened.

Suddenly everything became completely obvious. In front of me was the reason the animals were all running. The shouting trees were nothing compared to this behemoth. It was something that would cause any stallion to drop to their knees in fear and give up.

It was a beast that emanated evil. It was the size of a dragon with a wingspan to match. This was no dragon though. Its wings were that of an insect; large, grotesque, and buzzing. The body had the scales of a reptile and the outer shell of a locust. There was green pus oozing from places all over his body. Worse than that it had a massive scorpion’s tail, curled and waiting to strike with its strange reptilian/insect legs that looked powerful enough to crush an elephant. However, the most horrifying part of this... this abomination was the face. It was a face from a child’s nightmare. The face was a strange, almost pony-like and if you couldn’t see the eyes, and the body, it might have been an attractive face. However, you could always see the eyes. It never closed more than two of them at a time. They were large, soulless orbs of the deepest black. The only thing I could compare them to would be a spider’s eyes.

Just when I started to stand and turned to run it noticed me. I ran anyway. I didn’t make it very far before it leapt over me, insect wings buzzing, and landed just a few feet in front of me. Then it roared. It had row upon row of horrifying, gnashing teeth. Not that it needed to chew a pony at all to eat one.

Throughout all of this I’m proud to say I didn’t faint. It was a weird last thought but still it’s better than only thinking of how painful my death was going to be or only regretting things that I hadn’t done.

Strangely, even though I could feel the beast’s breathe on my face and see my reflection in his soulless eyes. I wasn’t dead yet. It just stood there staring at me. Then it opened its mouth.

“BOW BEFORE MW PONY.” I just stared at it. Then it repeated itself.

“BOW BEFORE MW PONY.” Again I stared. However this time I had regained some control over my body and confusion registered on my face. It seemed to comprehend that I didn’t know what it was saying so it repeated itself again.

“BOW BEFORE ME, PONY.” I was still dumbstruck but I immediately did as I was told.

“I AM THE AVATAR OF ABADDON, ANGEL OF THE ABYSS. YOU ARE EXPECTED.”

Two things hit me at the same time, both entirely disorienting. First was the way that it spoke. It opened its mouth but did not move it after that, not that it needed to. When it opened its mouth no sound came out but you could still hear it speak. The voice sounded more in my mind than anywhere else.

The second was what the avatar actually said to me. Why was I expected? Where was I expected to be? Who, in Celestia’s name, is Abaddon? I opened my mouth to speak when it decided it had something else to say.

“MY MASTER’S REASONING IS HIS OWN, DO NOT QUESTION IT. YOU WILL BE TAKEN TO ABADDON. ABADDON IS THE ANGEL OF THE ABYSS AND THE PLACE OF ETERNAL DARKNESS. NOW FOLLOW AND ASK NO MORE QUESTIONS.” It had answered all of my questions and even given me further instructions but I was still confused. I decided not to bother the beast and followed it as it led me deeper into the forest.

I had no idea how long we walked for or even what direction we were going in, I just followed. My limbs began to hurt and I started to realize that I couldn’t go that much further. Luckily for me The Avatar stopped walking. I decided to sit and rest on the ground. That’s when I noticed my surroundings.

“WE HAVE ARRIVED.”

I would’ve thought that the Angel of the Abyss kept a much darker lair but the evidence was clearly against me on this one. It looked just like the rest of the forest did. In fact it looked much more serene than the rest of the forest. Other than The Avatar, the trees and I nothing living was around here. The trees even seemed to give off a faint white glow. It was actually quite calming.

Then I felt a sharp pain from my shoulder. I turned to look just in time to see the beast pulling its tail away. I was just about to say something when my vision started to blur. All I could think about was the stupid beast’s betrayal and how I was going to be eaten by a monster in the middle of the forest. I stumbled around a bit before passing out completely.

“Wake up sleepy head. Wake up.” That voice sounds so familiar. I know I’ve heard it before but I am still too disoriented to try to remember it. I try to stand and open my eyes but his proves to be far too difficult for me so I settle for propping myself against the wall behind me.

After a few minutes I open my eyes. Everything stays black though. I panic as I open and close my eyes over and over again but nothing changes.

“Oh good you’re awake.” A light accompanies the voice this time. It’s a wonderful soft purple light. Suddenly, I remember the voice.

“Twilight, is that you.” She appears in front of me. A lovely vision of light and life in an otherwise pitch black... Where was I anyways? I can’t tell if this is a cave or a hole or a chasm of some sort. Twilight’s light doesn’t actually reveal any details of the environment it just brightens the area around her. I don’t care though. “I’m so glad you’re he-“

The light vanishes and her along with it. After she is completely gone I weep. I’m all alone in this darkness. No one is going to come and help. Not that anyone would if they could. With this thought in my head I drift off into a fitful sleep.

“WAKE UP, MAGGOT.” This forces my attention away from my nightmares.

“Come to kill me?” I ask completely devoid of emotion or care. “Well hurry it up then. I’m tired of being here anyway.

"Wherever here is.” The beast makes no move to kill me. It just stares at me with its harsh eyes.

“Kill me.” I beg.

“Do it now.” I plead with the beast. There is no saviour or redemption in this Hell.

“KILL ME NOW!” I command the beast but it only stares. No compassion or emotion in its eyes. Then it to leaves. I have no energy left after that shout. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. I don’t even know where here is. Again, this time not of my own will, I drift off into a fitful sleep.

This time there is no voice or beautiful glow to wake me up. I simply wake and stare off into the black. I think about standing before I realize how pointless that would be. Nothing matters anymore. I am dead.

“No you’re not, you are simply nothing.” A voice filled with compassion and wisdom fills my head. Much in the same way that the Avatar spoke but this was a much kinder but it was also a much more powerful and resonant voice.

“Who’s there?”

“No one is here.” The voice laughs as if it has said something clever to me. I don’t understand it though.

“What do you mean? I can clearly hear you.”

“I am No One as you are Nothing.” Again, laughter at some joke that I don’t understand.

“Come out of the darkness.”

“I wonder... Do you know where you are?”

“A cave I guess, maybe a chasm of some kind?”

“No little pony. You are in The Abyss. You are Nowhere.” That’s when I realize who’s talking to me. I realize but the fact seems too impossible, I refuse to admit anything to myself.

“Who are you?”

“Nothing, I have told you already that I am No One. I am also Nothing. You see the darkness in front of you, yes?”

“Yes”

“I am that Darkness.”

“So you are in control of this place?”

“In a sense. However, in a much more accurate sense I am this place, Nothing.”

“Why do you keep calling me Nothing?”

“It is what you are. It is what I am. It is what this place is. You see, I know nothing...” He cuts himself off with more laughter, “... and you, my good little nothing, are nothing.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Allow me to elaborate. Your entire life no one has noticed you. Your only friends are a drunk who is never sober enough to know if you exist or not, a stallion who will never speak of your existence to anyone and a cat. As far as the world is concerned you are nothing. As long as I am involved you will be Nothing.”

“I am not nothing.” I try to sound angry but my throat is dry and I’m too tired to really do anything other than sit here silently.

“Tell me, are you in pain? Can you feel your life slipping away? Have you realized that nopony will come to rescue you from this Abyss?”

“...”

“Ah so you have. Good, it simply proves my point. You can leave the very fabric of existence behind and nopony will care.”

“...”

“Tell me something else; do you want to be Something?” I look up at this.

“No.”

“Do you want to be me?”

“I already am Nothing. If you are Nothing as well doesn’t that mean I am you?” He chuckles again.

“Very clever. However, you and I are not the same. Not yet anyway. You are mortal. You are dying. You cannot return to your world. I am immortal and can go where I please. Do you want to be capable of all these things?” His words are sweet. They flow like honey and make promises of things that he knows I desire.

“How can I trust you?”

“You have something that I desire, corporeal flesh. I believe that I just told you that I can go to your world at will. That is not true. I need a vessel to do so.”

“Why would you want to go to my world? Also, what would happen to my body?”

“I can see your world from this Abyss. It is an accursed land of sun and happiness. Ponies are incredibly dull. They all yearn for chaos, ruin and freedom but none have the courage to chase that dream. The one that did, I believe his name was Discord, was imprisoned. Leaving me trapped in this Abyss without even something to watch.”

“Discord used to be a pony?”

“A pony to which I granted some of my power. He proved to be useless though so I abandoned him as he was imprisoned.”

“Won’t you do the same to me?”

“No. I will not simply grant you my power, I will become you and you will become me.”

“...”

“I take it that you are interested?”

“...”

“I will leave you to think on it.”

I can’t tell whether or not he leaves but he no longer speaks. At first I refuse to even consider his offer. Then his words hit me. I feel the biting loneliness I’ve felt since my father died. I sit in the Abyss in sorrow trying to force tears to come but even the escape of weeping won’t come to me. I am alone in this Abyss. Big Mac can’t save me. Berry and Chuck aren’t coming. My father has abandoned me. Before I can think about this anymore I am overcome by sleep.

I awoke, still in the darkness. This wasn’t a dream, this was my reality now.

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“...”

“Do you accept my offer?”

“...”

“Well?” I could hear the impatience in his voice. It is best not to keep him waiting any longer.

I nod my head.

The forest rushed up to greet me as I ascend from the Abyss. I’m reminded of the phoenix returning from death to life in a grand inferno. I decide it would be fitting for me to rise in an inferno as well, so I burn the forest down. The trees scream again. This time I am not frightened. I am not happy either it was just something I did.

“Hmmm... an interesting idea, if a bit extreme, still it was a bit spontaneous. I liked it.”

“...”

“Now then I believe we should take Ponyville for ourselves. It is defenceless except for the Elements of Harmony. However, a sneak attack should do the trick. Also, an attack of our magnitude on Equestrian soil will surely be noticed by the princesses. They are the real threat. Are you ready for this? When you emerge victorious you will be King of both this world and the Abyss.” This excites me. The King is somebody. If I am King I will no longer be Nothing.

“...”

“Good now call forth your army.” I didn’t like that he commanded me to do anything. Still I did it. I need him. Without him I am worse than Nothing. Without him I will die Nothing.

The army arrives. A swarm, as they are so fittingly called, of locusts. I now understand that locust is the name of these dragon/insect hybrids. They swarm the land killing anything that lives and leave it entirely uninhabitable to anyone that might survive their onslaught. Of course, nothing ever survives. Just one of them was enough to terrify me into submission before.

Now there are thousands. I can practically taste my victory.

We reach Ponyville in minutes. The ponies have no time to set up any defences and their city is quickly overtaken. It all happens so quickly that I barely pay attention to what my swarm is doing. They quickly destroy half the town before any of the ponies even attempt to fight back.

Ponies are really quite valiant. The few remaining citizens actually managed to rally together and fight off my swarm of locusts. Not only fight them but kill a few. Still a few locusts don’t matter and the slight resistance is eradicated quickly.

Then they show up. The Elements, Heroes of Equestria. They are somebody. I hate them for that. My anger boils just looking at them. I want to crush them.

That is, until I see her, Twilight Sparkle. My heart leaps, if only for a second. I struggle when I see her. I don’t want to destroy her.

“You don’t need to kill all of them you know. Just the other five will do.” My heart leaps again. That’s when I realize that there is more to life than just being something, although that is still my ultimate goal, I will need other something’s there as well, to keep me entertained and to bask in my glory. Twilight will do nicely and maybe Big Mac and Berry Punch as well.

“Why are you doing this?!” It takes me a second to realize that Twilight is talking to me. I won’t answer her though. A Nothing like me doesn’t deserve to speak to anypony, so I remain silent.

“Aren’t you going to answer me?!” She is crying now.

“...” I just stare at her completely ignoring her friends and all of their glowing jewellery. She keeps crying even as her and her friends are lifted into the air. She continues even after I’ve been turned to stone.

Then realization strikes. How could I let this happen? I’ve been beaten. Worse than that, I’ve been beaten in the same way as that low-life draconequus, Discord. I begin to panic as I think of my failure. I will never be something now.

“Do not worry. The elements power is no match for my own.” At first I doubted him but then a small almost imperceptible crack of light shone in through my stone prison. Then the crack grew and grew, slowly at first then faster and faster. Before long I was free again.

The Elements, still standing in the flaming wreckage that was their town square, simply stared at me. Then they tried the blast again. This time I was ready and protected myself beforehand. That is when they realized they were defeated, or perhaps it was when I destroyed their precious elements.

Then I realized without the jewels they are nothing. I still wanted to keep Twilight though. Twilight is something, personal student of the princess, she is someone. So I took Twilight. I took her to the Abyss and left her there, for her protection of course. As I left the Abyss I heard her cry again. It was for her protection though. Oh well, she will understand later I’m sure of it.

I return to see the entire town in ruin and the Elements are nowhere in sight.

“The swarm has taken care of them and now await your next order.” I dismiss them, they won’t be necessary anymore. The princesses will come and fight me alone and I will defeat them alone. Then I will be King of Equestria, then I will be

Something.

I decide that I would like to find Big Macintosh and Berry Punch. I still need to amass my favourite somethings and protect them from the battle. When I’m King I will release them and they will enjoy their lives with me.

Unfortunately, I find Berry Punch first. At least, I find what’s left of her. This will upset Big Macintosh for sure. It does not bother me though. Big Macintosh will realize that I’m just trying to help him and he will go along with my plans.

I was wrong, of course. Big Macintosh had seen the fighting from the outskirts of town at Sweet Apple Acres. When he saw my swarm fly away after the Elements of Harmony turned me to stone he decided it was safe enough to come and check it out. That’s when he saw her corpse. More importantly that’s when he saw me standing over her corpse.

“Did you do this?” There was no anger in his voice. Pity and hatred were very clear but no anger.

“...” I still couldn’t answer, I was still nothing.

“Why would you let this happen?” Still no anger. “Why wouldn’t you at least save your friends?” I began to contemplate what it meant to have friends. I quickly decided I didn’t want friends, only things.

“Bring her back.” He wasn’t questioning me anymore. “BRING HER BACK, NOW!”

“...” There is no way for me to do this. I can only create nothing; I can not make her something. He seems to realize this when I stare at him. Then his body goes slack and I realize I have made him into nothing.

I consider ending his life, as it would be a service to him at this point. However, I decide against it for the sake of our former friendship. Also, because I know he will not last much longer in this world. I will not grant him protection though.

Seeing Big Mac has reminded me that I left Chuck at Sweet Apple Acres. I leave Big Mac mourning over Berry and go to get him immediately. Chuck will still appreciate me even if I am nothing. Then I can leave him with Twilight so they will both be protected.

I reached Sweet Apple Acres fairly quickly and immediately started searching for my cat. I couldn’t find him in any of the fields so I went inside to look for him. Chuck was just sitting there, staring at me as I entered the house. He hissed at me. I ignored it and went to pick him up. He scratched my face. My lifelong companion and pet decided that he didn’t like what I had become.

As he jumped away from me, my wound started to bleed. An immortal being does not bleed. I was not immortal like he had promised me. I could die facing the princesses. Mt nerves returned full force this time. I began to wonder what sort of fatal, cataclysmic magic they might have in their arsenals. I picture my gruesome death at their hooves over and over and over again. Then I hear them call.

“We know that you’re in there.”

“Leave our friend’s house immediately or your consequences will be dire.” I did leave the building but only because I knew that I had to fight them. It was too late to turn back now. I need this though, when I do this I will be Something. I will be King.

“Good,” said the white one, “Now surrender and we won’t have to fight you.”

“...”

“Well?”

“...” Before I could even make a move the fight had begun. Luna charged at me quickly turning around to buck me. Her kick sent me flying. By the time I was on my feet Celestia had a large boulder hanging over my head. Before she could drop it though, I escaped to the Abyss. Then I just as quickly returned and dragged Luna in with me. She struggled and got in a few powerful shots but it was over she was in my domain now. However, I didn’t kill her, I simply left her there. Then I returned for her sister.

When I emerged I grabbed her from behind as well. She was prepared though. The pain was instant and terrible. I didn’t even know ponies were capable of something like this. Celestia had literally become a miniature sun in my arms. It wasn’t as strong as the full sized orb hanging in the sky but it was more than powerful enough to stop me.

I lay in the apple field, broken and battered with no hope of winning this fight. Celestia was clearly very tired as well but she could move while I was stuck on the ground. She slowly marched over to me. She did something then that I would never forget. She said:

“You were born a nothing, you’ve lived as a nothing and you will die as a nothing.”

She had dealt the final blow. I was dead... but she refused to kill me. She left me there to die slowly. I wasn’t even worth her effort.

I died as nothing.

Big Mac walked down the sterile, white hallway in silence as he followed the orderly to the room he was looking for. He wanted to ask the nurse if she had any information about him but Big Mac had more than to go asking questions to people who didn’t have answers. So he continued to follow in silence.

Then they reached the room. It had a bright shiny plaque beside the door that read: ROOM 404. Big Mac walked in solemnly as if he were visiting a grave.

“Oh, Big Mac, good you’re here. We wanted to ask you some questions. Is that alright?” The doctor looked at him hopefully.

“Eeyup.”

“Where did you find him? Also, what condition was he in when you found him?”

“He was unconscious in a forest a few kilometres west o’ town. Well, mostly unconscious anyhow.”

“What do you mean?”

“He was babbling tuh himself about some abyss and fightin’ princesses and a whole bunch o’ other gibberish about bein’ nuthin’.”

“Yes he still seems to be doing that.”

“What was he doing in the forest? Also, what were you doing in the forest?”

“Ah got no idea what he was doin’ in that forest. Ah haven’t seen’em since his birthday last week.”

“Oh... and you?”

“Ah was gettin’ worried when he didn’t come to see me fer about a week. I went tuh his house and he was gone. Had some

picture of his dad out though along with a camping book open tuh the page he looked at last.”

“Alright... what about the huge insect sting on the back of his neck?”